Brandi,” he said her name again, with more strength in his voice, as if he’d discovered the answer to a math problem. Brandi looked up and met his eyes, big and warm. Her paranoia melted away. She didn’t fear him. She didn’t wish for him to just go away, to never have appeared and thrown her life into upheaval. With a deep breath of her own, she asked, “Do you have one? A name?” The Swimmer stared at her, a glimmer of embarrassment in his eyes. Brandi nodded, understanding. “It’s better that you don’t have one. What are the chances I could pronounce it?” Then, awkwardly, “Why did you look for me? Why me?” “I heard your voice,” said the Swimmer. “I wanted to see your voice.” “To see my voice?” she asked. “Is it wrong? Am I… wrong? I don’t want to frighten you,” he said. “You scared the hell out of me, actually.”
