[She means to look up at him. She really does. She means to meet his eyes and look at him steadily, with all the confidence and put-togetherness she can muster. She means to seem ready for whatever he wants her to do.]

[But her gaze latches on to the teddy bear under his arm, and she can't seem to look away. Another few pieces fall into place. It's something he gave her because he doesn't like to be touched. Once she touched him and he was afraid. Once he saw her memory of church, playing with a bear. So he found a solution. When she is afraid, the bear will give her what he can't.]

[Her brow furrows. It's creative problem-solving. It's clever. It's compassionate. It's . . . Ben.]

[If she didn't remember before, she definitely remembers now.]

You're Ben. [She says it to the teddy bear, which she still can't look away from.] You're my warden.

You . . . saved my life a lot. I think we're friends. But we're not family.

You can come closer if you want. I won't hurt you again. But I understand if you'd rather not.