[Her eyes shift up toward the cat a moment, briefly widening as she realizes she kind of stopped with the petting and instantly feels bad despite her distraction, but she appreciates the gesture all the same and raises a hand to pet at the lusus' head as best she can. Looking back at Nepeta when she speaks, Naminé at least makes an effort not to frown as deeply as her mouth seems to want to, or to let her eyes sting any more than they already do.]

It's alright. [It's not alright, but it has to be, anyway.] You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault. [Even if she knows it's not that kind of 'sorry'.] But thank you, Nepeta. It's... sweet of you to be concerned.

[She takes a deep breath and lets it out, careful not to let it shake.]

I always thought it would happen eventually, you know? From the very beginning. [It's not as though anyone's ever managed to remember her for long, after all.] I was... prepared.

[And it hurts as terribly as she expected it to.]