Finally roused from her shell shock when Hope takes her hand, she looks down slowly into the young girl's eyes, her own eyes still filled with fear that seems to be ebbing away gradually. When she finally realizes that the battle is over she blushes furiously and casts her gaze down. Looking at her own large hand being held comfortingly by the slender fingers of the much younger and much smaller girl, she feels a wave of shame wash over her.
"I...I'm sorry..." is all that she manages at first, her shoulders slumping as she chokes back a sob, "I just...I wasn't ready for that..." she manages to say through the quaking of her voice. Looking first to Abaigeal and then back to Hope, she nods her head and squares her shoulders.
"I'll try and do better next time..." she says, clenching her fingers into a fist as she pulls her hand away from Hope. Taking a deep breath, she holds it for a moment before letting it out explosively and shaking her shoulders. "I'll do better next time..." she repeats, trying to sound like she actually believes it.
"I...I'm sorry..." is all that she manages at first, her shoulders slumping as she chokes back a sob, "I just...I wasn't ready for that..." she manages to say through the quaking of her voice. Looking first to Abaigeal and then back to Hope, she nods her head and squares her shoulders.
"I'll try and do better next time..." she says, clenching her fingers into a fist as she pulls her hand away from Hope. Taking a deep breath, she holds it for a moment before letting it out explosively and shaking her shoulders. "I'll do better next time..." she repeats, trying to sound like she actually believes it.
