<i>What is it about him that pulls at what is left of my inner light? I was just yelling and so angry that I wanted to kill Tommy and now, I can' even remember what I was mad about. <br/>
</i><br/>A light blush soon graced Colleen's cheeks as he spoke, a soft laugh given at his mention of her Arabic. "You know, I almost want to believe that I am getting better, but I know it is still horrible. Good thing I know how to make a mean herbal tea to keep you around." Stepping to the window she pulled the shade up a little more so that the warmth of the sun could sink into his bones, remembering how she used to do the same for her father every morning. Taking a deep breath in she let the memory play out before doing her best to try to bury it with all the other emotions that she had been eating lately.<br/><br/>"Were you a younger man, I might take such an offer, anything is better than spending the rest of my life in the tea shoppe and the pit." Yes, she knew it was her own choice to stay there, she had the means to leave when she wanted to, a life to return to but she didn't have to think about that here, there was no one worried about what she was doing to herself or how far down the spiral she had gone. Catching the look in his eyes her demeanor and body language softened quite noticeably, but she turned her gaze from him briefly. Was it shame, embarrassment, a mix of the two? Had anyone else said something to her like that she would have gone straight on the defensive or to the attack, but not with him, he spoke as though he knew exactly what she was doing because he had done it as well. "Just means I need to train harder.." Her voice was devoid of emotion as she said that, almost like it was a rehearsed reply given to pretty much everyone. Blinking out of it she shook her head to clear her mind. "It isn't that I am seeking something, really. Fighting is what I know, it is something that flows through my blood and has since I was a child." It was the only thing that made her feel anything anymore, but she wouldn't dare say that to him.<br/><br/>Feeling his gentle touch on her arm she finally met his gaze with her own, the scared and sad little girl inside of her peeking out from behind the wall she kept her hidden behind. "I suppose that it is nice that someone has taken notice that I'm not at the best point in my life and cares enough to speak up to me. It seems that life wants me to fight in every part of it.. no peace." A half smile spread over her lips as she rolled her shoulders in a shrug of, oh well. Nodding in response to his question she could feel her heart fluttering, her muscles burning just standing there. "I do, it is supposed to be at five so I am only working half a shift." His final words for her brought out that genuine sweet smile that she reserved for those who have really connected with her. "As do I.." She placed her hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "If you need anything else just let me know." With that, Colleen went about her usual routine.