“In the next moment he was behind me, crossing his arms around my middle. “I go where you go.”

“I cross myself and close my eyes. Where we go next, we go together.”

“He caught me to him, his arms banded tight around me. His face pressed into my throat. "Where do we go from here?"I held him. "Wherever this takes us. Together.”

“Feel how tight my arms are around you?" he said. "This is how tight I'll be holding you. No matter where you go or where I go, remember how tight I'm holding you.”

“I want him to lock his arms around me and throw away the key, because this is where he belongs and I'm scared he'll just let me go again.”

“I felt the electricity of his body behind me as he reached around me and took the card from my hand. He didn't move away, and I battled the urge to lean back into him, seeking the comfort of his strength. Would he wrap his arms around me? Make me feel safe, if only for a moment, and if only a delusion?”