Ashton felt for her. He wasn't sure he would be holding up quite so well if the roles had been reversed. To not know people, his family? He couldn't even begin to imagine what she was feeling. In fact, he wasn't even sure what to say. Nothing felt or sounded right. It all felt like excuses or meager attempts at brushing things under the rug. None of which he meant. "Perhaps time will help those memories to come back." In his head, he said a silent prayer that the memories she did get back were not of her trauma, but of her friends, her family. Surely the good parts of life she deserved to remember.

As they finished the sale and began to leave Target, she asked him a question and he paused as he turned to look at her. "You're still you. You're still the same girl you were the day you were born." He stepped forward, continuing the walk as he realized that she did not want to look at him. He didn't really blame her. She felt vulnerable in this moment. She was presenting him with the darkest thoughts of her mind. He was happy she felt comfortable enough for that. "Give yourself some time. See what happens over the next few weeks. If you don't remember, we can revisit this conversation. Until then, try not to be too hard on yourself." He didn't want her to beat herself up over something that she had no control over.

It only took them a few minutes before they reached the apartment building. He quickly transferred the items into one hand so he could freely punch the code into the door. Once it clicked open, he pushed open the door and allowed her inside. "We're going to apartment 216. Just one floor up." Thankfully he wasn't up on the sixth floor. The elevator barely worked.

They walked in silence up the single flight of stairs and down the long hallway to his small two-bedroom apartment. He took out his keys and unlocked the door, pushing it open and letting her walk in first. Once they were inside, he closed the door, locked it, then went over to the counter to drop the bags. He slowly began to pull the items out one by one, putting them on display on the counter. "I'll make sure there's counter space for you in the bathroom. I'll sleep in the living room on the couch until I get another bed for the spare room." He offered her a smile. "Make yourself at home." It wasn't much...but it was something. It was four walls, a roof, and most importantly, it was safe.