"You woke me from a dream. I thought you were -- she."

He glances away, as if this other person might be still here somewhere. But no.

He turns back to her, looking into her face with that same intense gaze. One hand rises, and she can see his skin pulled taut over each clearly pronounced knuckle. His nails are more talons, cracked with age. He draws the back of his knuckles down her cheek.

"I can hear you, everywhere."