[She fell silent for a moment, save for a low, almost inaudible hmm of contemplation.]

I...never wanted to leave.

[Another thing she had never told him. She never stopped to wonder if that's what he thought. She'd been the one to run, after all, and deliberately chose to hide herself away rather than risk confrontation.]

I've wondered...what might have happened if Dahlia hadn't killed your poor friend back then. If she gave up and left us alone and things were able to continue on the way they were. Or if I had gotten the necklace back from you after all, and she had no reason to bother.