[The stranger steps out in front of them, but before they can even react, Stephanie is chasing them away with a glare and Rue does not think they have ever felt so grateful before in their life.]

No, no. It's - I can not thank you enough for all of this. I f-felt so incredibly alone. Having you with me, asking questions, it helps.

[Rue's head bows while Steph leads them, trying to think of a single thing about their day that had been at all out of the ordinary.]

I believe I stayed in bed for longer than normal. I was playing a game on my phone and completely lost track of time. I text my Knickolas good morning after I found the gift he left me and - [Though so much of them has been so horrifyingly transformed, their big, impossibly dark eyes remain unchanged. They blink slowly, beak clacking together thoughtfully.]

It was strange, I suppose. It isn't unusual for my beloved to bring me sweet gifts every now and then, but normally he does prefer to present them to me himself. We - It is a long tale, but we nearly missed our chance at being together due to a handful of letters never delivered. Since then, we've always much preferred to give things to one another directly, without the chance of someone else interfering. So it is strange that he left it then, with not even a note attached.