Allowing the hug was a good sign. Returning it was even better. It looked like this wouldn't be as difficult as Namine had feared. She felt a tension she hadn't even realized was there drain from her as she shifted to get more comfortable. In all honesty, the hug was to reassure her as much as it was him. If he'd pulled away because of what had happened...Fortunately, that wasn't the case.

It also meant that he could probably feel the slight shudder that went through her after he rephrased his question. If she said not at all, he'd know it was a lie. If she tried to brush it off....well, that would be as bad as lying in a way. So how to phrase the truth in a way that wouldn't make him more upset? "Not any more than some others have. Just some bruises, and I was scared."

The manner of hurt hadn't been the same, but she could safely say that the amount was. It was just that now, she was more aware of her potential to feel any pain that was felt by the heart.