Chapter Twenty

Ben began. “Long ago, before man was ever created...” I squirmed a little. He had managed a sentence, and I was already uncomfortable with how this was starting.

He sensed my discomfort. “Please, just hear me out. It is important that you hear this. I really shouldn’t be the one explaining this to you now...and at your age.” I backed away, slightly offended and wholly confused.

“I’m only twenty-five!” I barked. “And what does any of this have do with me? What is happening to me?”

He tightened his grip on my arm where his hand had rested. “I wasn’t saying you’re old.” He suppressed a laugh. “I will clarify. I am not the one who was supposed to be teaching you, um, explaining these things to you.” He looked over at Richard who was now looking at us but still smoking his pipe. “We all had this explained to us at a very early age. And unfortunately for you, I am not a very good teacher, but I will do my best to explain it to you as it was described to me.”

I sighed. I didn’t understand.