"Surrogate... a substitute mother? I think I understand." She smiles faintly, shrugging a shoulder. "At least, I think I do. I am sorry to hear of what all of you went through. I would love to have a sibling. If I discovered I had a secret one, I would be overjoyed to have them, but angry at the time we had lost."

There's a pause. "Of course, we would have lost time anyway while I was in the Circle." She draws a deep breath before speaking in a tone that suggests she's trying to lighten the mood.

"Everywhere's just horrible, isn't it? No wonder alcohol was created."