[words die again in Emerald's throat while Chandra silently shushes her. and those last questions hit hard, and there's a pit in Emerald's stomach.]

I think I'm gonna be sick.

[but she doesn't look nauseous. she's. got a hand on her forehead, and then both hands on her face, and then she's leaning forward and her heart is pounding in her ears and she's not sure what she's gonna say (muffled by the heels of her palms) until it's already out of her mouth.]

She's not abusive, she's... she isn't, okay, I love her, she can't be... [and her hands fall and she turns her head. and she wants to be mad but she can't summon the fire.] She's not that, Chandra. You don't know her like I do.