MALCOLMI didn't see her coming.One minute she was standing in front of me, a reasonable distance between us and staring at if she didn't understand a word I was saying and the next, she was rushing at me.Close, too close.Her body pressed against mine and I felt myself turn into rock. She was speaking softly, saying thank you and saying she could not imagine doing this without my help and I felt a rush of warm air blow over me and settle in every joint of my body.It surprised me. Why did hugging her inspire such an emotion in me? I felt warm and excited, like a child who had been gifted his favorite toy.My first instinct was to step back but the firmness of her arms around my back didn't allow for such overreaction. The warmth was spreading, slowly and unfamiliarly, to my chest, to my head. It was like she had found a key I didn't even know existed and unlocked a door in my heart.I moved my arms slightly, unsure whether to wrap them around her. For a moment I hesitated, letting
Last Updated : 2025-11-22 Read more