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You pause, trying to get your thoughts in order, before you decide that whatever you tell Zoe isn't really even a lie because you don't know where your grandma is. Even so, you decide not to go into too much detail with the story, both so you can keep it straight in your head and also because you don't want to lie for the sake of lying. It's simply a matter of necessity, to keep you and Grandma safe.

Zoe notices you fall silent and sets down the flower vase in anticipation of a somewhat private conversation.

"Sorry, Huknock, I didn't mean to pry," she says in a lower-than-normal voice. You shake your head.

"It's all right—I just wasn't sure how much I should say. My grandma is coming back to town, and she sent me ahead so I could get the house ready. But I think the reason she's taking some time is that she's nervous about coming back. She's never been too good around people, and she's worried that people won't accept her after so long. I think she just needs some time on her own. And—I understand. I'm not a kid anymore, so she trusts me to be on my own. I'm just trying to make the best of the situation while she's gone."

Zoe nods, seeming to understand. You can tell she probably has a few more questions, but she doesn't ask them, seeing that you're already a little reluctant to say anything. Instead she just gives you a reassuring pat on the shoulder. You appreciate it—especially since, by the end, you weren't really lying at all. It feels genuinely comforting that someone like Zoe is willing to look out for you.

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