Page 28 of Property of Prime

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I didn’t speak.Didn’t move.Didn’t push.

We just stood there together in the hum of the machines.

After a few long minutes, she murmured, “I remember the water.”

I turned my head slightly and saw her eyes were closed.“Yeah?”

“It’s dark,” she said.“And there’s a… light?Not a flashlight, more like… glow.On the surface.”Her fingers curled.“There’s screaming.”

I didn’t interrupt.

“There’s a woman,” she whispered.“I think she was calling for someone.And a man yelling.And my mom pulled me away.Hard.Like she was scared.”

Her voice broke.

I reached out slowly.Slow enough she could pull away if she wanted, and placed my hand over hers.

She didn’t move.

Not away, not closer.

Just… accepted it.

“I don’t know if it’s real,” she whispered and opened her eyes.“Or if I’m imagining it.”

“It’s real,” I said.“Memories aren’t fake.”

Her eyes glistened.“What if remembering makes everything worse?”

“Then you won’t be alone in it.”

She took a breath, then leaned her head against my shoulder.

Just lightly.Barely there.

I didn’t breathe for a second, then I relaxed into it.

“Prime?”she murmured.

“Yeah?”

“You scare me a little.”

My stomach tightened.“Why?”

“Because I don’t even know you,” she said softly.“But I trust you.I’m safe with you.”

My hand tightened around hers.

She trusted me.

She shouldn’t.

She absolutely should.

Both felt true.

“You’re safe with me,” I said quietly.

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