her hand had glanced against his shoe. he'd worn a brown buttondown shirt and fine black leather boots. she'd had a black knit cap pulled down low, to her eyebrows. he'd looked down at her.


"i'm sorry," she'd said, "after that religious walk, i couldn't resist."

he'd squinted.

she had never seen him before, but she'd known his name.

he'd believed her and taken her hand.