And I noticed it... I noticed it in the way he leaned his body towards me when someone spoke too loudly, in how he lowered his voice when he explained who was who, in how he looked at me before answering for me... just to make sure I was comfortable.
We were talking to a small group when someone approached him excitedly.
"Alexander," the man said, patting him on the shoulder. "It's been years since we coincided in an event like this."
Alexander smiled matter-of-factly.
"Time passes quickly," he replied. "I'm glad to see you."
The man looked at me then, without disguise. He evaluated me for just a second, just enough to smile later.
"And she's your girlfriend?"
The question fell with a dangerous lightness.
I felt the immediate change in Alexander. It was not abrupt, but it was perce
