Chapter 140

HE COULD stay here for always, and he thinks maybe She'd let him. Time doesn't seem to have anything to do with reality at the moment--reality doesn't seem to have anything to do with reality--but this is real, it's really happening. A lifetime of pretending not to wish for it, pretending he didn't want it, was revolted by the very idea of it, and here he is, living it, and he doesn't ever want to stop. It's almost more than his mind can take.

It's strange, because he'd never thought of Her as so corporeal, but Her heart beats steadily, Her embrace is warm, Her tears damp in his hair, and She's real.

He's exhausted, spent. He could close his eyes and sleep forever, his cheek pressed against Her breast.