"There's a saying I read somewhere. 'If you only have coins left, use one to buy bread. With the other, buy hyacinths. Which aren't a favorite flower of mine, but I like the sentiment."

He watches her movements, her uncertainty. It's a little like looking in a mirror, like she's driving a body that isn't hers. But he's not sure he can say anything about it.

"So, uh. Over here's where we'll be working, alright?"