More than anything

God, she does. Her shoulders droop with the weight of how badly she wants to talk about it, and when Anne asks, they lift slightly, and she looks at her with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. She wants to talk about it, but she doesn't want Anne to have to imagine the creatures, or think about her parents, or — maybe worst of all — look at her with pity if she tells her about Beau.

But she also knows that, if she says no, Anne will take that at face value. She won't tell Regan she should talk about it. She'll accept Regan's answer and it'll hang between them, and Regan will regret not saying something forever. Or, at least, until the next time it comes up.

"Yes," she answers. Then she sighs and rubs her face before adding, "But we really don't have to."