It might have been the food -- she hadn't been eating much, no stomach for it -- or a lack of sleep from staying up to reread old classics. Maybe she was coming down with something. Or maybe it was just the people; all of the talking, all of the cues, the give and take of basic human exchange. No matter how many days passed, her integration into this survivor's community felt difficult, even wrong; as if all her time alone (and Ellie wasn't even sure exactly how much time) had somehow undone a lifetime of interacting with people. She'd never had this much difficulty before the Outbreak, and she meant well -- it shouldn't be so hard.
I just have to try more, she told herself as she wandered the halls.
Then, as if by magic, an opportunity to do just that appeared.
Ellie caught the tail end of Vivian's plea -- just one medical kit should be enough -- as she was passing. A very simple equation set off in her head at that. Of course she knew where to get one; she knew where everything was, because exploring was often much more comfortable than trying to make friends. If this woman needed help, it didn't make sense not to give it to her.
And so Ellie stopped, taking a deep breath, and turned around again. The woman was still standing there, now with arms folded.
"So -- hi," Ellie offered after a moment, lifting her hand in greeting. "I heard you. You... You need a medical kit?"
She paused there, uncertain what else to say, and then gestured for the woman to come closer.