"I'm sorry," he said, trying to sound sympathetic. He still wasn't good at empathy, or sympathy. Or really any of the '-mpathy' words.

What else was there to say? The rest of his story could wait. If she felt safe here, if she could be calm leaning against his side, then who was he to begrudge her that? Especially here on the Barge, where it was difficult to feel safe. Slowly, he put a gentle arm around her shoulder.