In the world as it had been, she might have laid a hand on his shoulder in a silent gesture that said she understood, but people had grown more feral over the last three years. More likely to bite. So instead she schooled her face into a mask of cautious sympathy and said, "We all have losses we're still grieving. Sometimes the best thing we can do is not spend every day in tears."
It was at times like now that she wondered if she'd ever see any of her family again. If she was meant to find them, certainly they could track her to Oregon. But she couldn't be the only one who'd survived.
"Maybe you should have water instead of another drink," she told Busqueda quietly. "It might be none of my business, but it'll only make your head feel worse when you finally sober up."