eyourself?"

    "Sure,iftheywereallasquietasthatone."

    Westrolledbythepark,wherearagtagbunchofchildrenqueueduptoastandsellinghotchocolate.Weboughttwocupsandsatonacoldparkbench."Youdolikechildren,dontyou?"

    "Childrehinkaboutthem."

    "Butwouldntyouwantasontotakecampingirltocallyourown?"

    "Callmyown?Peopledontbelongtootherpeople."

    "Youreaveryliteralpersoimes."

    "Idontthink—"

    "No,youdont.Mostpeoplepickuponsubtleties,butyouoperateinanotherdimension."

    ButIknewwhatshemeant.Ididnotknowifhavingarealhumanbabyossible.Orwoulditbehalfhuman,halfgoblin,amonster?Ahorridcreaturewithahugeheadandshrunkenbody,orthosedeadeyespeeringoutbehasunbo.Oramiserythatwouldturnonmeandexposemysecret.YetTesssresenyarmhadacurioustugonmysce.Partofmedesiredtounpacktheburdensofthepast,totellherallaboutGustavUngerlandandmyfugitivelifeintheforest.ButsomuchtimehadpassedsihegethatattimesIdoubtedthatexistence.Allofmypowersandskillslearnedalifetimeagohaddisappeared,lostwhileendlesslyplayingthepiano,fadedinthefortofwarmbedsandcozylivingrooms,intherealityofthislovelywomanbesideme.Isthepastasrealasthepresent?MaybeIwishIhadtoldeverything,andthatthetruthhadrevisedthecourseoflife.Idontknow.ButIdorememberthefeelingofthatnight,themixedsensationofgreathopeandbottomlessforeboding.

    Tesswatchedagroupofchildrenskatingaakeshiftik.Sheblewonherdrinkaafogofsteamintotheair."Ivealwayswanted