Ellie had spent the better part of the day touring Sing Sing. Now that a buddy system wasn't necessary, it was easier to get around, easier to multi-task and occasionally wind up doing things that needed no company. Like visiting the door to the laboratory, for example, looking down at the dirty steps leading into the darkness, and waiting there until she felt brave enough to consider a visit.
After everything with Lily-Margaret, Eloise wasn't sure it was worth keeping open anymore. She was thinking of proposing a system of restricted access.
It was this -- and everything she'd talked about with Rae -- that plagued Ellie's mind as she made the walk home, fingers wound loosely in Dog's long grey coat. David. Another constant stream of thoughts was the one that involved him, as always, except that now it revolved around wondering when he would tell her to leave. She'd considered that he might not have gotten the message at all, or that he'd simply forgotten about it in all of the confusion, but a part of Ellie was determined that everything really had been too good, too simple and right to be real.
Still, when she pulled open the door, she couldn't help smiling at him.
"Hello," Ellie murmured, venturing a few steps inside. Dog padded away into the corner, where she'd grown used to sleeping next to piles of books. Papers, objects, people -- nothing here felt very out of place, except for the slight air of tension blanketing everything. It kept Ellie on her feet and away from the bed; instead she busied herself removing her sweater, folding it neatly. Maybe today is the day.