She led him like a band instructor, taking her time with her steps, walking pronounced despite the creeping feeling of cold along her back. She felt like she was leading a hunting expedition, the kind her papa used to bring her on. She was always the focus, always a scout, but never led. It felt nice to be relied on due to knowledge rather than a freak skill.
By the time they got inside, she was shivering, her sweater practically frosted over, but she kept the cold outside like a shell and smiled at the warm that coursed through her like spring sunlight. She breathed. The front room was dark, and she realized it was later than she thought. The curfew guards were probably out and about. They were lucky to get inside when they did.
"Thank you for the talk, sir," she said, walking up the stairs with him, rubbing her arms to instill a permanent warmth in the places that still felt numb. She coughed and sniffed. "It's been difficult to find nice people here."
