NIRELLE

"You can let me go now," I say, my voice barely coming out. He blinks and slowly raises me so I am now standing just a bit from him. "Thank you," I murmur as I create space between us. "Why are you here?" I ask immediately.

"Well, I heard you were cooking," he said as if I had committed the gravest of sins ever to exist. He seems to be moving on quickly, unaware of the effect he had just had on me. I don't know what it is, but it is unfamiliar to me, and I am not sure I like it.

"Yes, I ...