[Mari startled a bit, before a glance behind confirmed who it was who was trying to comfort her.]

Frieda... yes... I... [Mari tried to smile but it came out tense, one hand grasping at her other wrist to try to hide the trembling.] It's my Father's... I don't know how much you can hear of the other voices but... he can be rather... stern... at times...

[This much was true... she didn't want to burden Frieda with unnecessary worries... after all, the other girl surely had things she too was struggling with and had already helped Mari with so much... She felt it was unfair to put anymore burden on her friend.]

How about you? How are you holding up? [A redirection on her part- to see if there was anything Mari could help with.]