Preface

I can hear them calling my name. They’re holding my hands, touching my cheeks; I can hear the fear and hope in their voices. But their voices aren’t right. Their voices aren’t his. His is the only voice I want to hear. He’s not here though. If he were here I would know. If he’s not here then something bad happened, something I don’t want to think about, something I don’t want to know.

I hear them trying to encourage me to open my eyes. They’re telling me to squeeze their hands, but I don’t want to. I’m afraid. I don’t understand what any of this means. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t remember how I got here. I’m sad. I don’t want to be here without him, not now that I finally know where I’m supposed to be. Once I open my eyes it becomes real, once I ‘wake up’ I can’t go back. They’ll ask me questions I don’t want to answer; they’ll turn what I know into something twisted and ugly.

They’ll destroy what matters to me.

They’ll take away what I love.

They’ll chip away at my memories until even I won’t be sure what I remember anymore. But I can’t let them do that. I won’t let them do that.

I have to protect him.