I shrugged and pulled my hand back, leaving our fingertips barely touching. “My dad used to say, ‘cold hands, warm heart.’ I think I’ve realized that it means I’m empathetic because I have anxiety.” I sighed. “It’s a fight-or-flight response. The body pulls blood away from extremities to protect the major organs.” His eyes were kind as he reached for my hand again and squeezed. “Don’t worry, Just Annie. I’ll keep your hands warm.”
