"Thank you," she said with a soft smile. "And it is good to meet you as well. The circumstances..." She paused only for a moment, and then sighed softly, the minute shake of her head making it clear that that was that, that it was done. "I wish that they were better, but there is nothing to be done for them, if he is truly gone. I will, of course, continue to ask - and I hope that he is not, but..." She did not shrug, but it was clear that it was what she was saying - if he was gone, then life moved on.

"How are you faring here?" She did change the subject, purely so that her mind would stay off of more depressing subjects.