Her mind floated in the aftermath of exhaustion. It felt like she’d fought a hard battle. Had she won? There was no response from the inside. Did that mean yes then? She shuddered, a long aching sigh working down her spine, bones, and legs. She swore even her toes shook. Needing to move – maybe to feel connected – she stretched out her legs, her arms, even her feet. She almost laughed. She could feel her body inside, her ownership, a hundred percent ownership, in every tiny molecule. Satisfied, she opened her eyes and smiled up at the two worried faces above her. “Hi,” she said, her voice low, sleepy, as if waking up from a long nap. “Did I make it in the proper time frame?” “Almost.” Cody crouched down beside her, his gaze assessing, searching into the very soul of her. She couldn’t blame him. She smiled. “It’s me.” “Is it?” His tone was still doubtful, his gaze more penetrating than ever. She let him look. She knew who she was. Maybe for the first time since the Deanna incident.
