[That smile looks genuine. Pongo's instincts had been right: She'd needed to talk to someone who wasn't involved in all of this mess her world was in.]

[It makes him smile in return.]

It definitely looked like it. But you don't have to tell me everything right now if you don't want to. Just know that if you ever want to talk, I'm willing to listen. Doesn't have to be an appointment. Or if you just want to borrow Pongo for a while to pet him and talk to him.