Sylvia looked up at the waning light, holding up a hand to shield her eyes from the glare of the late afternoon sun. What little bled through the overarching canopy of trees was a brilliant orange and harsh. "Yeah, later than I was hoping to be out, too," she said, more as an aside to herself than really aimed at the other woman. Pulling the earbuds out and turning off her iPod, she added, "Look, I don't want to trouble you at all. I'm sure I can find my way back on my own. You don't need to guide me anywhere."
She paused. Perhaps that was a little off-putting. Her thesis advisor in her Master's program had once told her that she often came off too icy and intimidating. Sylvia, for her part, couldn't imagine why. Still, she trusted the judgment of her advisor and since then worked to improve her demeanor. Ameliorating her tone and wording, she added, "But if you happen to be headed that way, I wouldn't mind the company." She even attempted a small smile, although it was probably a little too stiff and delayed to seem natural.