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In the last moments of her run, the voices around her as well as the clamor of sirens and car horns faded. Because she saw only the man outside the walkway, and his presence muffled everything else. Her lungs burned now and a slight, pleasant asphyxia blurred her senses. Finally at the barricade, she perceived – in addition to Aiden’s figure before her – her own breath and heartbeat, then his, but no other sight or sound.

She didn’t remember climbing through the mesh… but she must have because Aiden had her crushed against him. She heard the loud click of a gun being cocked, and dimly registered the shouted warnings from police to stay back.

Aiden’s smile reflected pure, uncomplicated joy, however. He set her down and cradled her face in his hands. “God. It’s so good to see you, Maya.”

He was happy? Sweet heaven, so was she. An easy lightness blossomed in her chest, expanding like a balloon that threatened to lift her bodily from where she stood. In the ensuing contentment that took her over, she realized again how careworn she’d become, how small her definition of happiness had shrunk since her days in Griffins Bay, especially this past year. She smiled openly in response to him, indifferent to the context of their reunion and their precarious perch on the lip of the bridge.

Aiden stared at her intently, kindly. This will be okay, he assured her. And of course they would be okay – they were together. He then tucked her forehead into his neck, wrapped her tightly against him, and leaned toward the water.