NICOLE

I'm so shocked at the sight of him standing in front of me that for several seconds after I have said his name, my mouth is wide open and I don't know what I'm waiting for.

Dan keeps his eyes on my face while he wipes the barrel with a cloth he removed from the pocket of his jeans. He's wearing gloves, too. I can't read his expression.

It suddenly occurs to me that I got out of one nightmare only to find myself in another one.

"Are you alright?" he asks me after many long beats of ...