this　time；　it

felt　routine。　Easy。　Evidently

this　was　something　you　never　forgot；　like　riding　a　bicycle。

It　was　so　very　quiet　and　dark　as　he　ran　through　the　forest；　his　breathing　slow

and　even—dark　enough

that　the　trees　flying　past　us　were　nearly　invisible；　and　only　the　rush　of　air

in　my　face　truly　gave　away　our

speed。　The　air　was　damp；　it　didn't　burn　my　eyes　the　way　the　wind　in　the　big

plaza　had；　and　that　was

forting。　As　was　the　night；　too；　after　that　terrifying　brightness。　Like　the

thick　quilt　I'd　played　under　as　a

child；　the　dark　felt　familiar　and　protecting。

I　remembered　that　running　through　the　forest　like　this　used　to　frighten　me；

that　I　used　to　have　to　close　my

eyes。　It　seemed　a　silly　reaction　to　me　now。　I　kept　my　eyes　wide；　my　chin

resting　on　his　shoulder；　my

cheek　against　his　neck。　The　speed　was　exhilarating。　A　hundred　times　better

than　the　motorcycle。

I　turned　my　face　toward　him　and　pressed　my　lips　into　the　cold　stone　skin　of

his　neck。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　as　the　vague；　black　shapes　of　trees　raced　past　us。　〃Does

that　mean　you've　decided

you're　awake？〃

I　laughed。　The　sound　was　easy；　natural；　effortless。　It　sounded　right。　〃Not

really。　More　that；　either　way；

I'm　not　trying　to　wake　up。　Not　tonight。〃

〃I'll　earn　your　trust　back　somehow；〃　he　murmured；　mostly　to　himself。　〃If　it's

my　final　act。〃

〃I　trust　you；〃　I　assured　him。　〃It's　me　I　don't　trust。〃

〃Explain　that；　please。〃

He'd　slowed　to　a　walk—I　could　only　tell　because　the　wind　ceased—and　I

guessed　that　we　weren't　far

from　the　house。　In　fact；　I　thought　I　could　make　out　the　sound　of　the　river