There was no dreaded moment of forgetfulness this time when she wasn't quite aware that Aaron was gone; even in her sleep she had held on to that truism. So, when her eyes fluttered open, and the familiar voice calling her began to register, she was more confused than she had been ever before. "Aaron?" she whispered.

She shot up to a sitting position, and realized he'd been cradling her head on his lap and stroking her hair. She looked at him skeptically, glancing back at the house, ...