[ To say it like that, she holds back the temptation to run with it. We are together now— really! Ah, but she’s merely shaking her head with a lopsided grin. That would’ve been too easy, and she’s got far better ideas to run her mouth about.

Leaning forward across the table, instead, she takes his hand. ]

It’s difficult to explain, in hindsight. To finally feel as though happiness is within grasp, while terror of the unknown threatened to sabotage everything I’d worked for... The elation of feeling the marriage of spirit and body— but the pain of it, my God !

[ If he allows her his hand for this long, she’ll squeeze it. ]

You know, up until now, I’d just been following habits, impressions of memories so long past that I couldn’t know if they ever were... But this- it’s reminded me what it is to be alive.