NIRELLE

"Are you okay?" I ask when I realise that he probably has no idea where he was leading me to, since it was his first day here, and if we were lost, I would not be able to help him retrace our steps.

He stops in his tracks, his shoulders squaring as he gently turns to me. It was as if he had been set free from whatever spell it was that was over him. He lets out a breath and nods with his eyes shut tightly. I wiggle my hand in his, and then with my free hand, I hold it over his hand, ...