She appeared before me like a vision, her wet hair and clothing dripping all over the floor of our room.

"Helemoira?" I nearly sobbed.

She turned and faced me, a smile plastered across her face.

"Geien!" She shouted and ran to me, jumping into my arms. I caught her and held her to me like the treasure she was.

We stayed like that for a while, our arms wrapped around one another as I held her and swayed us gently.

She had ...