I immediately drop Winnie’s hand, and she jumps. I feel like I’ve been scorched, starting with where our hands met and stretching halfway up my arm. The sensation only stops when I step back. Way back. I need to regain some semblance of control, of dignity, of normalcy. My thoughts, my body, my everything are all out of whack where Winnie is concerned. And if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s being out of control of a situation. Even more so—out of control of myself.
