I asked with a small tremor in my voice. He only nodded as he slowly approached me. There was something different in his gaze, a slight swagger in his steps, as if he had all the confidence in the world. I stood up from where I was seated on the bed and walked on unsteady legs toward him, nearly tripping over my feet in the process. He was there instantly, catching me with his strong hands. Hands that I have felt on my body many, many times over, yet these hands were a strangers. As he helped me steady myself, a strong, but gentle hand was placed on my jaw, tilting it to where I was staring directly at him. It was then that I knew I was no longer talking to the man I loved who had walked out of the room only moments before. Now, I was talking to the man I loved, who I had never met before. “Link?” I questioned with a whisper. His only answer was a nod as he stroked my cheek back and forth with the pad of his thumb. I felt my knees tremble as if I could fall to the floor any moment if it weren’t for him holding on to me.
