The desire to follow her thrums through me with vicious abandon. I close my eyes, slip my hand into my pocket, and caress the rough cord of rope to drive away the coldness encasing me in my own dark, hollow space. She will understand soon there’s no reason to hide from me, no reason to be ashamed. I understand her; I appreciate her fear more than any other soul. Soothed, I open my eyes. I won’t be able to wait until she appears next in my world before I see her again.
