Serving for Two

[Keller]

For a moment it seemed like her perceived interpretation of his stoic staring was accurate. All the more so when he careful put his utensils down on the plate and looked back up in her direction. For an agonizing span of three seconds, he would just look at her. Before a sensation around her trembling hands that had rested idly on the table thus far prompted her to look down at them. He had reached across and taken hold of both, and unlike his handshakes his grip in this situation was gentle. He still appeared to exude little in the way of distinct emotion and the lack of words gave no hints either.

"I don't think any less of you because of it." At least now it was clear that she wasn't being judged negatively. And that if anything he was sympathetic of her situation, perhaps it was like a mirror to him - one in which he saw struggles that he could relate to.