“Where are we?” Either she really was that unobservant sometimes or she was that engrossed in me and had no clue she was in familiar territory. Hoping for the later, her eyes zipped to mine several times since leaving, but my ever present stare unhinged her. “The place I was born.” The bench we sat on was cold. I pulled the blanket from the bag. “This is where you…are we at the Valkyrie gardens?” “You’re safe,” I freaked worrying she would flee. “I know,” she smiled. She felt secure with me. Pride enveloped me. “I used to lay here and count every star in my head until I fell asleep. My father would pick me up and I would wake up in my bed.” “And you never saw the sun after you turned?” No, I nodded barely through the darkness. Sometimes I do have to go out in daylight, but rarely. I try not to test my limits. “I used to lay here and picture you beside me counting too.”
