[Ah, a distraction. And it'll be good to get something to drink, if just to stave off the inevitable headache... He doesn't follow her with his gaze as she leaves, though; fragile as he's feeling, it's better to not have any further reminders of his phobia.

He'll wait to respond until she seems on the tail end of her preparations, thinking in the meantime and rubbing his face to clear away some of the dampness and comfort himself somewhat. He's managed to even his breathing again by that point, thankfully.]

Well... my birthday was this month, I guess. [It was nicer than he expected, this year; more than just the reminder of the day he came to this place and the state he was in at the time. He brings his hand over his ever-present necklace, fingers curling around the silver pendant.]

My present that year, the one my dad mentioned... kind of set off all the change, even if it didn't come until that fire.