You shake your head. "I'm good. I'll sit this one out." She watches you a moment, deciding whether to push, then nods. "Alright. Then I'll sit with you." "You don't have to." "I know." She's already heading for the cafeteria. "I'm choosing to." You walk in together, but there's no line this time, no trays. She doesn't order anything. She picks a table and sits, arms resting on it like this was always the plan. You sit across from her. For a while neither of you says anything. The cafeteria moves around you, people, chairs, conversation rising and falling, but none of it reaches the space between you. Not awkward, exactly. Deliberate. Something waiting to be said. She studies you openly now. "You're not just tired. So what is it?" A pause, softer: "Why didn't you sleep?" You don't answer right away. The question is simple; the answer isn't. You could give her a version of the truth, but even that thought collapses, there's too much behind it to pull on without the rest coming loose. She isn't interrogating you. She noticed, that's all. Somehow that makes it harder. You look back at her, knowing you have to say something. Just not the truth. [[Cybercrime/The_Phisherman/Ignore the question|Ignore the question]] --- [[Say you've been having trouble sleeping]] --- [[Cybercrime/The_Phisherman/Say you've been busy trying to figure out a new side hustle|Say you've been busy trying to figure out a new side hustle]]