Curtis' breath catches. For an instant, his grip tightens involuntarily before he can refocus his thoughts.

It's difficult to reconcile: the sheer humanity of her words, the emotion behind them, and the reminder that she is so ancient compared to anyone -- anything -- Curtis knows. He can't fathom carrying a burden like that for a century. He would've discarded it long ago.

"How can you stand it?" he whispers.