She was sure there were plenty of reasons to be feeling nauseous, but the awkward exchange she and Mr. Langley were sharing didn't do anything to ease it. She found herself struggling to meet his eye, despite playfully bantering with him for months as an intern. It was like he was a stranger — no, like a friend she'd had a falling out with and was now forced to face once more. She supposed, after a moment's contemplation, that her evaluation wasn't far from the truth.

"I hope I- I mean..." she stammered, having difficulty finding the right words. Was he mad at her? Did he miss her? He supposed he probably missed her presence more than her actual self, which was fair. She couldn't reassure him that she was coming back to work though; it had been their superior, Mr. Jameshill, who had sent the letter terminating her employment. And even then, did she want to go back to work? Would she be well enough to?

"My absence. I hope I- I hope I haven't hurt the department. I hope I haven't hurt any of you," she finally managed. She'd been fairly sure, from the overall tone of Mr. Gladstone's letters, that her silence had been causing her coworkers — and more importantly, those she considered friends — pain.