She turned a page in her workbook.

The paper rustled sharply in the quiet room.

“It’s actually really unfair of the hospital to charge so much,” she said.

“They’re basically trying to steal my education.”

She kept her eyes on her reading.

She didn’t see me turn my head to face the blank wall.

I stayed quiet for the rest of the hour.

Allison underlined paragraphs in green ink, completely comfortable in the silence.