"I am sorry Cindy. Clearly I can see that I am the source of your discomfort."
"No, no. You did nothing wrong. I can't punish you for knowing me…, and so you can't punish yourself okay," she uttered as she tried to help him absolve himself of any blame.
It was Jake who had been out of line. But she had put herself in his shoes and felt he was vindicated to act as he did. She had been the catalyst for his anxiety, keeping him away so in her absence his heart would grow fonder. But now it has grown tired and given up.
"You love him?" Marcus asked.
"He is from my past, I knew him long before I came to the shelter. In fact, we attended the same school but I never really noticed him. I never noticed anyone actually. But in all the while, he saw me."
As she spoke, she felt his hand on top of hers, giving friction that offered her a soothing sensation. She stopped and looked at him.
