[Anna starts squeezing Rose's hand a little harder as soon as she hears what she's saying. this flower... she can only begin to understand what it's doing to her best friend. but Anna isn't going to let that change her answer here. it still takes a few seconds for her response to come, but she's not nearly as frustrated with herself when it does.]

There's a lot of things I don't do that I probably should.

[she wants it to be a joke, but she's struggling to even begin to sound lighthearted. she swallows and it feels heavy.]

I don't care if you think you "should" be alone. [ah, there we go. this is the certainty she'd wanted to speak with. why is it easier when it feels like she's admonishing Rose for something? even if that's not the tone she's taking.] You need people more than ever right now. I'm not abandoning you.