She rearranges herself, adjusting against the counter. She wants to push herself up on it, but thinks better of the idea, and instead just tucks her cane next to herself so she can fold her arms instead.

"The truth is, it's not something anyone's born knowing how to do. You have to learn it, and some people learn it early, and some people never learn. Then, once you learn, you have to choose to do it. The good part of that is that you can choose to begin at any point."

Helena breathes in deep, exhaling slow.

"People aren't plants. We don't have proper seasons to lay seeds, to grow, and to be sheltered from frost. There's no right time to try except when you do."

They aren't her words, she knows. Something she read, or something her father said. But they feel right, so she's borrowing them.

"Forgive me if I presume too much - did you try to use fear as a push because it'd work on you, if time called for it?"