His shadow reached me long before he did; shifty blackness with more life than the man. Untouchable, yet a felt presence, nonetheless. It washed over my skin, filling pores and raising goosebumps. I should have run; wrenched myself free and fled from him again, but I could not.
Something in this strange creature touched my soul in a way no other ever had. Could I stay with him? Give myself freely? Get lost in this dichotomous being who simply wanted to love and be loved?
As he neared, shadow merged once again with flesh and the feeling of otherness faded. He smiled at me and extended a hand. I took it with gentle pressure; warm and soft. Together, we sought the darkness, for it was only there he found peace and I could forget what it was that captured my heart.
