Astoria reached out to gently squeeze Ernie's hand. "There's nothing childish about missing someone," she said, then let go quickly, unsure of her welcome.
She bit her lip, looking up at him with a wary sort of strain around her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was hushed. "Ernie, do you ever think... does it ever seem, well, not real, here? To you?" It felt dangerous, putting her fears into words, but she thought she might burst if she didn't, and she couldn't go to her family. Not for this.