[It's good to see him that much closer to a smile, because he really does seem like a nice man. She makes an strong effort to hide the part of her heart that's aching to see her friends again, even if being back there would just start her heart aching in a different sort of way.]

[A nod.]

Yes, I've been staying with some friends in New York for a while now, ever since I fell down a well in my own world and ended up there. It's very different than Andalasia... are you from New York? You don't sound like most of the people I met there.