Tell the Truth

"I'm here with my friends," you say to Lilith.

"I didn't see anyone around," she shrugs. "They ditch you?"

"We couldn't agree on where to go," you hedge.

"Bad problem to have out here. Guess you're the lucky one, since you found the right place."

You're still not sure why you're doing this, but something in you wants to play along. Ever since that strange shift between eyeblinks, everything here seems that much more real, Lilith included.

"You live by yourself out here?" You ask.

"Nah, there's a few of us. Free spirits. Sometimes spend the night out there, sometimes come back here to clean up and get a hot meal."

"Lumberjacks?"

"Sure," Lilith chuckles, "let's go with that. It'd get a laugh out of the girls."

"At least you're not lonely," you reason.

"Guess I'm not," she nods, "but there's always... room for more."

Her eyes rove over you, pale blue and glinting in the light.

"I uh... I don't know if I'm cut out for this kind of life," you mumble with a returning blush.

"Nobody is at first," she says with a spreading grin, "but it'll grow on you."