This time she didn't flinch from his touch; nearly collapsed into him, but held herself back, swallowing thickly as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. The tenderness, the pressure of his hand on her back acted as a rope for her to tug herself back to reality. She watched him pick up her basket from the ground and nestle it in the crook of his arm instead of handing it to her. When he offered her his arm, she realized he intended to see her back home, and her expression almost crumpled. Elias... The man who had no idea the effect he had on her, who of all people didn't treat her like some demented creature to be pitied after learning of her past. And even after seeing her act like such a thing, he still wanted to see she was alright.

Wiping at her eyes, she nodded mutely, reaching out to take his arm. It was only when she found support in his frame that she realized how much the past few days had drained her. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't take any more from this interaction other than offer him a gentle squeeze on the forearm as a thank you. But this time...this time was different, and Irene allowed herself to lean against him a bit more, wanting to wrap his presence around her like a shield.

"I'm sorry to be such an imposition," She found herself saying, just in case she had interrupted his day, because of course she had. It was an otherwise perfectly fine day without a madwoman like her causing disruption in the little town, throwing her supplies everywhere.

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