Page 34 of Molt

“Because that was your name.”

“You said sometimes they were different.”

“They were.”

“But the first was Lenora?”

“Yes.”

“And now?”

“Lenora again.”

“Coincidence?”

“No.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

I close my eyes. “What did I look like?”

“Which time?”

“The first.”

His breathing changes.

“August?”

“Dark hair.”

I touch mine. “Like now?”

“Longer.”

“Eyes?”

“Brown.”

“Mine are green.”

“I know.”

“Was I pretty?”

He goes quiet.

I smile despite myself. “That’s a dangerous pause.”

“You were beautiful.”

Something warm moves through me. “More beautiful than me?”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”