Eve felt it the moment they crossed back into neutral territory.
Not dramatically. Just a settling....something that had been tight in her chest for four days releasing incrementally, like a fist slowly opening. She took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"Okay," Maya said. She'd stopped walking. She was standing in the corridor with her bag over her shoulder and she was looking at the ceiling.
"Maya," Eve said.
"I'm fine," Maya said. To the ceiling. "I'm completely fine. I'm just....." She stopped. Pressed her lips together. "I knew you were coming. I knew it the whole time. I just...." Another stop. "It was a really long four days, Eve."
"I know," Eve said.
"The food was terrible."
"I know."
"I had nothing to read."
"I know."
"I kept thinking about that book I was reading to you." Maya lowered her face from the ceiling. Her eyes were wet. "Chapter one. I only got through chapter one."
Eve pulled her in.
