"Isn't it always, though? Not knowing keeps life so much... lighter," I remarked, far more open with Kathy than I would have been with most of my other acquaintances. Maybe because she'd shown the initiative in being open with me. I know that there were plenty of times when I wanted to return to that blissful state of unknowing, those precious few weeks after I'd woken up in that chamber, when I could still believe in the goodness of people. And how that was the default.

I knew better now.

"But it also makes things a hell of a lot more dangerous. At least when you know about the unpleasant stuff, you also know when you've spotted it. Maybe I care about you being able to suss the dangers out, Kathy. Not that this particular fact is dangerous, but... well." I glanced up at the ceiling.

It was an emotional danger. That prospect of seeing a loved one again. Maybe it was just me, and how I hated for things to grow more chaotic than I was anticipating... but I'd rather be warned, I thought.