Arrick lifts defensive palms and sits back on his haunches, breathing rapidly, his eyes never leaving mine. So devastated. It claws at my defenses and pulls me an inch closer to reality and away from the foggy dreamlike state I’m halfway in and out of.

“I’m not going to touch you. I swear. I’ll stay over here if that’s what you need.” He sits down lower on the ground, keeping his distance. All I can do is obsessively watch his every movement, flinching, body alert in panic ...