No one said a word. I stared out through the front passenger window, not really seeing the scenery we passed as we sped by. Whispers of strange commands, memories of a debilitating presence, and images of haunting aqua eyes shuffled around in my head without purpose or control. I struggled to make sense of everything, to bring logic to my maddening experiences since coming to Joe’s. When nothing made any more sense than it did before, I started to feel discouraged. A soothing heat and pressure reached over my lap and surrounded my clenched fist. It was nice. I opened my hand to explore the strong, manly fingers stretching to intertwine with mine from the driver’s seat. Gavyn glanced at me and offered a reassuring smile, then focused back on the road ahead. Suddenly, my troubles vanished. His gesture quieted my world, and I welcomed it—regardless of what it meant. When we finally arrived at the hospital, Gavyn parked the car in a spot that had just opened near the Emergency Department entrance.
