Her heart about does a flip in her chest as she nods with understanding. Yeah, things like that; things you have to say before they’re gone, or you’re gone—that’s what scares her, that she’s only here as long as the simulation is. That there’s a countdown ticking down somewhere she can’t see it.

“Yeah. Yeah. I want... I want to make the most of this time I’ve been given.”

One hand raises briefly as if to reach out and touch their face, but she hesitates again; she wants to get this all laid out, first. Let them make a choice with all the information, not half.

“...after Church found that fake conversation, I... realised I’d been lying to him by omission, ever since he got here. I know things about him, and I should have told him from the start, and... and it reminded me that honesty’s still an effort, for me, you know? And it’s easier with you, too; I’ve never lied to you. I wouldn’t, not even little things, and yet there’s this... big thing, huge thing, that my fears wanted to lock away.”

She finds their hand again. That’s a good compromise.

“But I can’t do that. Fear or not. I can’t hide something so big from you.”