My attempt to change the topic of conversation did not work. I was suddenly mobbed. Everyone asked me the same question. "Apollo, are you ok?"
Well, almost everyone. Valerica charged into me, picked me up and carried me to the edge of the room before hugging me tightly.
"Don't leave me again. Please. I was so scared. I thought you cast me aside." Her voice was tender, scared. Not like my Valerica.
"Valerica, look at me." I asked.
She shook her head, burying it into my chest.
"Look at me." I spoke again, this time her eyes peered upwards, the pain of the unknown evident in her gaze.
I grabbed her chin and kissed her on the forehead, she gasped, but said nothing.
"What we have is ours and ours alone. No one is taking that from us, understand?" As I said those words, it seemed she needed to hear them more than I expected. The light returned to her eyes. She smiled at me and caressed my cheek.
