<span style="font-style: italic">I shouldn’t have said anything…</span><br/><br/>The mantra repeated over and over in her head as she listened to his words, took in what he said. Though the smile never wavered, nor did the humor in his eyes, she knew that it wasn’t the same on the inside. No, he would have been thinking over it, and would undoubtedly be feeling more than he was allowing himself to show; Why would he have shown any more when she’d already proven how fragile she was at that moment? How raw she remained a week after the night that stole her light? He wouldn’t show how angry he was, not with her like that… He cared for her too much to do that to her, on top of everything else.<br/><br/>Apology clearly on her face, though it went unvoiced as she had a feeling it’d be the last thing he wanted to hear right now, she instead started to pick up her side of the table. At that moment, she’d have given anything for some sort of task to do--even needlepoint--and, since that wasn’t available, cleaning would have to do. Sure, she wasn’t the best at it as she’d had people all her life to do it for her, but it was more than just sitting around and grimacing would accomplish. Taking her bowl around the other side of the table, behind him, she started to clean it out, remaining silent all the while until stopping just short of him. Still behind him, a hand beginning to reach in his direction, she stopped.<br/><br/>“...Would you like me to clean up your things...or are you still eating?” Her voice was quiet, wavering, praying that she’d not just ruined what would have been a nice reprieve from everything else that had been going on. Maria, while not the best company, was enjoying not being around everyone else… She may have felt awkward, and worried, and be on the edge, waiting for him to see her for what she saw herself as now, but that didn’t stop a part of her from enjoying being around him in such an intimate setting. A setting where it was easy to believe they were the only two people in the world that remained.<br/><br/>“Can I...can I get you anything?”