Chapter 23

　　When Michael came downstairs, David had fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room.

At the moment, David was like a hedgehog with his quills gathered to himself, looking gentle and quiet. For a time, Michael was in a trance. By the time he had realized it, he found himself sitting, legs folded, beside David.

David had a habit of grasping things in his hands when he was sleeping. When they were together, he would either clutch at his pajamas or his arms.

Sometimes Michael didn\'t change position all night, and he’d wake up stiff, all because David was lying on his chest. David was soft and seductive, murmuring sweet and boring little words of love.

Once, his arm was wounded, and as David would hold onto it at night, the scab had been prematurely rubbed off, and there was fresh blood. When he’d woken up in the morning, David was crying.

\"Mike, I didn\'t mean to...\"

\"I’m so sorry...\"

That morning, David said \"I\'m sor