[The story is enough to make her resolve weaken just a tiny bit, enough to trouble her and cause some of the wind to be taken out of her sails. Tragedy touched almost everyone at one time or another, though there was no denying that some people had it harder than others. She's not sure how to respond to it or if she even should; a part of her wants to break down and just vent about everything that happened with Tom, everything that drove her to her breaking point because she hadn't felt she'd been able to talk about it freely with anyone. He'd hurt too many people for her to expect sympathy, though some friends still offered it.

But she won't air those thoughts now. She's already let too much slip by getting angry and losing control of her filter, and as much as she had been looking forward to maybe finding a new friend in him, Elijah is still a stranger. Fangs or no fangs, that was enough to make her want to back away.]

I did trust someone here for awhile.

[She'll scale the story back, but that much is worth saying.]

Didn't quite go the way I'd expected. Ask anyone around here about Tom Hanniger and things will be incredibly clear. So no offense, I appreciate the thought and all and I'm sure you're really hoping I can take something away from your life lesson here-- I'm sorry your brother ruined things for you, and I'm sure some part of you is still a decent guy, but I'm fine the way I am. I don't need any more friends who turn out to be enemies in disguise.