girl unwound.

     “No problem.” Claire took the bags extended to her and looped her arm through the handles, adjusting their positions to balance the weight.      “Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Hermione. I’m Claire.” She takes a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill her lungs. “I arrived here a few days ago, so I’ve been working to grow accustomed to it. You didn’t, ah, happen to—–” A frown forms on the scientist’s face, and the question is left unfinished.      You didn’t happen to come here on account of strange phenomena, and find a reservation in a mysterious hotel, did you? That would make her sound like she was out of her mind.

     She takes the flyer with a polite smile and runs her eye over it, taking in the information.  “Of course.” When the first side has been read, Claire quickly turns it over to check if there’s a second— there isn’t— before tucking the leaflet into her coat pocket and giving it a small pat.      “Oh, I’m sorry about that. An art shop of sorts, you say?” She gives the man a nod.      “I’ll be sure to come around.”

     “My pleasure.” And with that, Claire leans down, gently taking the plastic bags from the young teen. It crosses her mind to inquire after his parents, but for now, the scientist decides that isn’t really an issue.      “Were you taking these home?” she asks in a kindly voice as they start off down the street.

     "Ah, then alright.” reassured by the other’s confident words, the look of concern on the woman’s face melts away. “Guess I shall be on my way, then!”      “By the way, as you seem to live here as well— I’m Claire. Nice to meet you.”

    Claire lets him carry on ( ba-dum tss ) for a short while, brow furrowed in evident concern. Still, she’s unable to leave the stranger to deal with the box by themselves, and with a sympathetic smile, finally moves to the other side of the box, fumbling for the edges. Experimentally, she lifts the wooden crate an inch or two off the ground. Indeed, it is heaver than it looks.      “You should save your strength for better use. We can lift it together. Where were you planning on taking this, may I ask?”

     “—Perhaps I may lend you a hand with that? It seems too heavy of a burden for one to carry alone.”