Luz swallowed her own frustration a moment. It was like every other month, she'd run straight into a friend corrupted, and that corruption always seemed to include making light of their relationship like it didn't matter.

"Free of what? The Sharon I know has never felt constrained. She liked experiencing things. Sometimes they weren't nice, but those times aren't the only ones. Sometimes they're small moments, and they matter as much as anything."

Luz did stare at Alessa though. "And I'd always be her friend, free or constrained."