..it had a steady beat, his heart. Its melody never changed. I listened so closely as small tears welled up in my eyes remembering how fearful I was of when the beat was almost lost.

But he was alive. He is alive.

I dared not ask what he was thinking. I think I was fearful of what he would say. I just wanted him to hold me and never let me go.

Sometimes I think that if he lets me go, he’ll never again take hold. I lifted my head from his chest and looked up at him. He was staring into the distance, so serious.

“Hey”, I said, getting his attention. He slowly looked down to me. “We’re alright. We’re alive, aren’t we?”.

“That we are. That we are”.

He said no more.