[ Dick looks at her. She doesn't deride him, or tell him he's wrong. She doesn't tell him he's imagining things.
This is a new experience. He doesn't really know what to do with it. Some part of him deflates. His shoulders get smaller. His face seems to get younger, looking its true age for the first time. ]
I...I have.
[ He swallows past the lump in his throat. For an awful moment, he doesn't know if he can say it. He's so close to the edge all the time. He can't fall into that memory now, here. Not in a library. Not in front of a girl like this.
He purses his lips. ]
Allergies. [ His head feels light. He imagines that he can hear something buzzing, and he tells himself it's the air conditioner, and to stop being so foolish. His hands flex at his sides.
He doesn't know if he can be this brave. ]
I got stung. And he brought me back.
[ He takes a careful breath, so afraid of his own body. Quickly, he shakes his head. ]
no subject
This is a new experience. He doesn't really know what to do with it. Some part of him deflates. His shoulders get smaller. His face seems to get younger, looking its true age for the first time. ]
I...I have.
[ He swallows past the lump in his throat. For an awful moment, he doesn't know if he can say it. He's so close to the edge all the time. He can't fall into that memory now, here. Not in a library. Not in front of a girl like this.
He purses his lips. ]
Allergies. [ His head feels light. He imagines that he can hear something buzzing, and he tells himself it's the air conditioner, and to stop being so foolish. His hands flex at his sides.
He doesn't know if he can be this brave. ]
I got stung. And he brought me back.
[ He takes a careful breath, so afraid of his own body. Quickly, he shakes his head. ]
I don't want to talk about it, okay?