“Every time we dropped anchor at Jeval after that day, I had this constricting pain in my chest.” He reached up, tucking a hand into his open jacket as if it were there now. “Like I was holding my breath, afraid you wouldn’t be on the docks. That you’d be gone. And when I woke up in Dern and you weren’t there, it came back. I couldn’t find you.” His voice wavered, splintering the words. He looked so heavy. So tired.
