henry:

          “i’m not acting. but i see your point.” he said with a small smile before he looked at her seriously. he stared at the file, he knew who it was–he knew her. he knew the woman they were claiming was guilty. the one they had in custody. he remembered the last time they seen each other. it was at some gala and she was being paraded around by phillip lefurgey. his hand around her waist as he pressed her close as if he was holding onto his only source of power–which it probably was. hands clenching, he let out a sigh before nodding. “ we can’t just bet on this. someone’s life depends on it – tell me anna. can you take this on? it’s not–it’s not going to be a low profile case. i asked for this case, personally. i’ll admit that. but that’s because–” he sat down in front of her before pinching the bridge of his nose. “you’re the only one i trust to do this one justice. to bring out the truth. i can’t trust anyone but you with this.” 

            SHE LOOKS AT HIM AS IF HE’S AN OPEN BOOK, ready to be read, analyzed, discussed. it’s an old habit, one she picked up while alone in the streets of london, one she picked up while doing what she could to pay for her education —- everyone she ever loved or relied on was GONE, and she had no one but herself. she still has no one but herself. she can see the way his expression changes, the seriousness, the worry. she knows what the sigh means before it even happens, and she HATES it.   ❛  henry —-  ❜     how does she tell him that every single aspect of that case makes her stomach CHURN, and her hands shake? how does she tell him that it brings back MEMORIES, that it’s a carbon copy of her mother’s suicide, even if it’s a murder, even if the character and circumstances differ? how does she tell him that she’s a little girl again, ALONE & SCARED & UNHEARD.  how does she tell him that? she doesn’t, she doesn’t, she doesn’t.   ❛   why do you care so much about this? tell me the truth, or else —-  ❜   there’s no or else and she knows it. she has no choice on the matter.