I nodded, and fell into step beside her. A part of me wondered if she didn't want to sit down so she wouldn't have to get up in case she decided to run away, but I left that thought alone.

We walked in awkward silence a moment, as the horizon brightened with moonrise. I ran over in my head things I wanted to say. Everything I could think of seemed trite or stupid.

Finally, I settled with, "Okay, stupid question of the year: are you all right?"