And that was why he wanted Kisha to speak her mind, to lay out exactly what she wanted him to do, so he could act without giving her any reason to see him as an opponent. If Kisha only knew what he was thinking, she might feel a little embarrassed for being overly cautious, but at the same time, she would likely feel grateful to have met such an understanding and considerate man.
Kisha took a deep breath and, following the old man's suggestion, finally spoke her mind. If things went wrong afterward, she could act accordingly; being overly cautious now, before anything had even happened, would only weigh on her own mind and health.
She realized that preparing was wise, but letting fear control her would make her no different from a paranoid. With that clarity, she shared with the old man what she had discovered. Once she let go of her tension, the old man noticed too, and the smile on his weathered face grew wider and more genuine, free of any worry.
