"I wish I could read her mind. She's a pensive, deep-thinking girl, and it's not unusual for her to stare into space, lost in her thoughts. Normally, I'm fascinated when she does this - the shifting emotions crossing her face, marked by faint smiles, frowns or grimaces. That's not how I feel now, when I can't escape the uneasy awareness that her contemplations concern me. "What are you thinking about?" She blinks distractedly, and then stares up at me with eyes so dark and fathomless that I'm sure I'll never know all the mysteries behind them. Even if I can't follow her when she withdraws inside herself like this, I want her to know that I'll always be there to pull her back to solid ground before she goes under. That I won't let go. "I don't want to say goodbye," she says, her eyes shining. "Then don't say it."