[ emma has been much more alone since the battle of rose creek, since bogue has been buried and their town has seen justice - since all of this, emma has been alone. she hasn't isolated herself, and she hasn't gone out of her way to avoid her neighbors and the people of her town, but she's no closer to them than she had been. since the loss of matthew, she hasn't exactly gone out looking for another suitor nor intended to do so - in fact, she's hardly looked at the men of her town as possible options. she's been...content, oddly, in the way she lives and with the company she keeps.

especially since that company has come to include faraday. ]

I've seen it. I do my best not to encourage him.

[ she doesn't want to get his hopes up, after all. that would be unkind, and while emma is straightforward, she doesn't go out of her way to be cruel. she will be honest, if it comes to that, but if she doesn't have to break his heart, she'd prefer not to. ]

Odd question, if you ask me.

[ she pulls the shawl tighter around her shoulders, trying to fight off the evening chill. ]

Besides. I think I'm doin' just fine.

[ without matthew. ]