I won’t think about it.
Gezoz is giving me a strange look.
“Gezoz?”
“Hmm?” he says.
“Do you want to kiss me?”
It pops out, before I can think about it. Which is good, because if I’d thought about it I never would have said it. Gezoz’s jaw tightens, and he swallows hard. There’s a long pause.
“Very much,” he says, his voice tight.
“You can.” My heart beats triple-time. “If you want to.”
“Vee…” He runs a hand across my forehead, pushing my hair aside.
“It’s all right.”
“It’s not.” He lets out a deep breath. “Not like this.” Gezoz smiles, a little sad. “Go to sleep.”
* * *
When I open my eyes, they’re crusted with dried tears, and it tastes as though something has died on my tongue.
Daylight is coming in through the tiny window, revealing the cracked plaster walls and fraying flo
