On the cusp of asking more, she found herself stammering instead -- ridiculous nonsense syllables that signified nothing. She shut her mouth quickly.
Out with it. Out with it.
"I've been staying with a friend."
That wasn't it. She swallowed and looked around the street. So quiet. Nothing like safe. Part of her expected to see a certain car pull up to the sidewalk. She edged away from it. Why did she ever think coming here at night was a good idea?
"Can we please get inside?" She didn't care where. "Please?"