"Just stay down," Cindy frowned, running her fingers through her hair. "You're a terrible liar, kid. It's okay to not be okay." There's really nothing she can do, is there? She can't even offer to put him out of his misery; he'll probably be gone before she even offered.

"You're going to be fine. You're smart, and brave, and you're going to be okay." She placed a hand on his head. "Try to relax."