I spoke softly now. “It’s me. It’s Lucy….” I like to think it was just coincidence that Holly laid the silver net over the Source right then. I like to think it was the sound of my name that brought him back. Who’s going to tell me otherwise? Either way, the twist of smoke rose up and up, and bloomed across the surface of his eyes. Intelligence came with it; intelligence and recognition—and something more than that. He smiled at me. “Hey, Luce…” I slapped him again, sharply and on both cheeks. Take it from me, that’s a hard thing to get right when you’re crying.
