We just kept running, and it never occurred to me what we would do when the sun set and one of us collapsed in exhaustion. She was beginning to slow and her wheelchair was creaking with the continued effort of moving so quickly.

Finally, I realized that it was getting dark, and we were still in the woods, at this point farther away from home than I’d ever been without an adult. I slowed to a walk and she followed suit, then finally I stopped.

I turned to face her and was about to speak when I realized I didn’t even know her name. Suddenly I felt silly. My face fell and I gazed at the forest floor.

“Patrick..” I looked up, surprised. Was that her? Was that her voice, that silky smooth but rough and real voice? How could it possibly be that perfect, so unlike my own? I was ashamed to speak.

Then a thought occurred to me. “You know my name,” I said blankly. She laughed, and once again I was struck by the music of her voice.

“Of course.You didn’t think I could love you this long and never ask after you?”