"I don't want to go to sleep. It feels like I haven't even got a chance to enjoy the fact that you're home. It's been a very long day." We were sitting on the couch in the living room, our old hangout spot. She had her head on my shoulder and I held her hand in mine.

Knowing what I know now, I have no doubt that there are ears and eyes all over the place but I was hoping that her dad was cool enough not to spy on us. I wouldn't say that I was in the clear, but ...