"It got pretty pointed at the end," she agreed with a small, almost humorless chuckle. She wouldn't be sharing the details of that, but it had been fairly pointed. Knives were, generally, and Nikita had started carrying one around at a fairly young age. "It just worked out better for both of us if we didn't talk. Or live in the same province."

She deliberately left out her age for now, because she didn't want misplaced sympathy or pity. She'd gotten through it, hadn't she? No need for anyone to feel sorry for her now.