on the candle’s dancing flame. Swore the heat caressed my skin even at a distance. I felt light. Free. My movements unrestricted.

The ticking grew louder as Komen’s voice faded.

“Now, think of Veronica. See her in the flame. See her face as you remember it. Now, see her as she is.  Find her. See her in the flame and go to her.”

I felt weightless, and disconnected, but at the same time connected to everything around me. The flame on the candle continued to dance, but the longer I stared the more it altered its movements to the metronome. Each flicker in beat to a click. And as it synced to the mechanical rhythm I smelled Roni. Felt her. Saw her

 “Let me see you,” I whispered.

She opened her eyes and pulled me in as I...

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