Daniel honestly can't tell what's worse - the explanation she gives him or the matter-of-fact way in which she delivers it. This is normal for her, accepted. He rubs one hand over his mouth and shuts his eyes to mask the fact that he has absolutely no idea how to respond to any of it. She doesn't seem to be looking for sympathy or a solution, but Daniel naturally feels inclined to offer both.

She's been essentially quarantined her whole life, and for her it makes perfect sense to remain that way, possibly indefinitely. That's all Melanie's known. She's a carrier, from what he can understand, for some...vague and unpleasant-sounding virus that is hopefully not airborne or transferred through touch. Probably not. He's going to assume no.

At her suggestion, Daniel's hand drops and he looks back up at her sharply.

"No," he says reflexively, much fiercer than he means to. But just - god, that doesn't sound like any kind of life for anyone, let alone a ten-year-old girl. He immediately softens his tone and dials it back a bit. "No, I, I can't do that. I can't just - I'm not going to leave you here. That, this, this whole place where you're just locked away is, that's no way to live."