It says a lot, about how far you've come, together. By going slowly. [it's a small smile, proud of them for their progress. She can be honest about that, if nothing else] Decluttering, I hadn't thought about it in that way before, but it makes sense.

[She's quiet again when he puts his mug down, and for a moment, she's still, expressionless.] ..Well. In time, maybe you'll have that quiet feeling again. But it'll be a better sort of blissful - because it'll be on your own terms, and no one else's.

[ And isn't that the most important thing? She thinks so, anyway. But it's what Malcolm has to say next that leaves her somewhat speechless, if only for a few minutes. It is one thing to know that you have someone's trust. But it is another to hear it, spoken so sincerely, even after her own recent behaviour. Slowly, her gaze falters and falls, the corners of her mouth trying but failing to twitch upwards at the corners, until her drained mug is under scrutiny once more.

She doesn't know what to say. ...No. That's not quite right. There are words to be said, if she can manage them. ]

..Thank you, Malcolm. [she needs that understanding more than he knows, than she knew -- or maybe he did.]