Her fingers curl into the fabric of her blouse at her elbows, her knuckles alabaster. She doesn't speak for a long time, as all her focus is on one looping thought.

Don't you cry. Don't you cry. Don't you cry. Don't you cry. Don't you cry. Don't you cry.

"No..."

She swallows hard, but can't get her words past the lump in her throat.