[ Her strings make sense, given her history, her background. Maybe Alan's make no sense at all. Maybe he shouldn't have issues with people who come with strings attached. Did Alice come with strings attached? Did she have an agenda? Alan's brow furrows as he tries to think briefly about what changed between them. Maybe they just grew apart. Maybe something about Jesse attracts him because she just thinks of herself as someone no one wants to deal with. Alan can't explain it because he barely understands it himself, but maybe he wants to deal with her, however that ends up looking.

His mind creates an image for him, an image of the two of them traveling together. Walking together. He can't tell where they are, but maybe the location isn't the point. Maybe the point is that they're together. He doesn't question the image, because, well, it's not the first time he's had one like it. Sometimes his mind just creates pictures of things, and he can't really explain where they come from. This one feels different, though. It's the first time in awhile that the image he's seen has someone in it who's still nearby.

But she's said something that causes him to pause. ]

... Foster homes? You were in foster homes because all the adults disappeared from your town. [ He remembers her telling him that when she told him about Ordinary, the town she came from. ] We don't have to visit them if you don't want to, if that's- well, unpleasant for you. [ The stories he's heard about foster homes and people who've been in them aren't always good. He doesn't want to be the reason she digs up old memories. ]

Well, Alice and I own an apartment together. I don't know who's going to end up with it.

[ Maybe he shouldn't be doing this. Maybe it's wrong of him. He's still legally married, and of course he's aware of that, but the attraction is too strong for him to resist. ]

If it's not the story, then... [ Is it her? Is it me? Both of us? Does she want this too? ]

Is this okay? With you, I mean.