The Witch Keeps Time
I hold it there, unmoving.
This is not invitation.
This is presence.
Her eyes flick to my hand, then back to my face, questioning.
I shake my head slightly.
Not yet.
Old grammar is not about response. It is about declaration without noise.
I lower my hand slowly and place it over my own sternum. I do not press. I let the weight rest.
Here, I tell her without words. This is where you exist first.
She watches carefully, then mirrors me, her palm hovering uncertainly before settling against her chest. The moment her hand makes contact, the air tightens slightly, curious.