[She's in the middle of putting together a plate of food—mostly sweets—as they speak, so she isn't really looking at him, not right away. The way his voice strikes something in her doesn't stop her from continuing:] It's almost too bad, you know? But I guess if stuff like that is gonna happen, it's good that everyone can...
[And then she turns around.
Mary's whole expression falls, eyes gone wide, jaw hanging open. But this can't be right. All these impossible things, but this seems like too much. She squeezes her eyes shut, hard enough that her vision is fuzzy when she opens then again. When it clears, he's still there.
It occurs to her that of course he doesn't recognize her. By her teenage standards, she's practically an adult now. Taller, more confident in the way she carries herself, trading her frilly dress for paint-stained jeans. But even so, she hesitates, her throat closing up around an introduction. It takes her a moment to finally manage to say something—quiet, careful, uncertain. Not ready to hope she's right.]
no subject
[And then she turns around.
Mary's whole expression falls, eyes gone wide, jaw hanging open. But this can't be right. All these impossible things, but this seems like too much. She squeezes her eyes shut, hard enough that her vision is fuzzy when she opens then again. When it clears, he's still there.
It occurs to her that of course he doesn't recognize her. By her teenage standards, she's practically an adult now. Taller, more confident in the way she carries herself, trading her frilly dress for paint-stained jeans. But even so, she hesitates, her throat closing up around an introduction. It takes her a moment to finally manage to say something—quiet, careful, uncertain. Not ready to hope she's right.]
Ronove?