"You are experienced in the way this place works." It was a statement, not a question. Clearly, she knew her way around here and could be of great help to him going forward. The fact that he understood her and felt at ease around her was an odd comfort to him. It was hard to put into words. He felt like he had a kindred spirit in her when he gazed at her.

Both of them were broken in their own ways.

"Thank you," he said softly, almost awkwardly. Two words he was not used to saying in a long time. "For... Helping me."