el nervous when her n

I

time had bent in strange ways, stretching, folding, curling in on itself. There was life b

d her m

no words. J

I hesitated. It almost felt like touching it

hoto

a black tank top had slipped slightly, revealing the clean sweep of her collarbone. Her

as s

ne

se it reached inside me. Like she had captured somethi

of that caugh

o send it. But it

the lines, the soft way the light curved around her. She wa

that made me

-shirt I always loved and carried the quiet energy I

as he set one mug dow

out m

ed once, then nodded, like he underst

something," h

kno

e y

ispered. "I

hone and turned it on myself. I sat with my knees tucked up to my chest, the sheets

let it be

it

. No emoji

s passed. Long enough to start doubting myself.

for trusting me. What

was

sing.

e. And a

ized how much

a photo back,"

dge of the bed. "Maybe she kne

odd

t take. S

hing in m

htly in the early chill. The sky was settling into that deep e

looked

asn

you somethi

to face me

again, not in front of you, but just

He didn't rush to answer. When he

oss a line," he said. "But

it hu

to know who you are on th

made my th

want to l

"Not unless you stop

hit

t was

re. Not to be cruel. Just out of fear. Fe

at I want with h

said. "Just keep telli

freedom to

hen that's yo

m carefully. "

t shut me out

ngers closed around mine, it felt like

my phone b

e

see you Frid

ions. Just

within you

aled

typed

I wan

later,

keep something just mine while I figu

ly came

Tell me how to mee

gainst my chest and st

know where th

asn't walking

faster than I t

eel like myself. I wore a soft shirt that hung loose off one shoulder, bar

I arrived, standing near a wall of black-and-white portraits. Her coat was open. T

She didn't rush to greet

wa

lose the spa

" I

H

idn'

started

hing. The air between us felt deli

ands almost touching. Their fingers hovered inches ap

ena said quietly. "I

ok at her. "Wh

d yet," she said. "And the powe

t the photo. My

d her hand

up. R

rab mine. Sh

offe

ettle into hers. Not laced. Jus

walking

t press. Her wo

wa

to and the next, I realized t

than or the fragile ru

willing to share-and how gently I coul

feel split between

lt w

hat w