"You were going to guess my family was dead?" Beth gives him a skeptical glance, one that mostly covers up the fact that she's grateful he doesn't have anything crueler to say than that. In another conversation, that wouldn't be true, and it'd probably make standing out here a lot worse. Which is saying something, considering that her toes are already starting to numb a little bit. Even if he's sweet as pie the whole time, it's going to be a long wait.

His question isn't really one that has an answer, anyway. She thinks about it, and eventually, she shrugs. "Maybe all that's left are boring answers, when everything gets bad enough."

It's a thought she finds disquieting, but she can't deny how true it feels. I want to go to sleep knowing nobody has to keep watch. I want to walk around outside without carrying a weapon. I want to see my friends again.