26 “Of course it’s me, silly, who else would it be?” she answered with a chuckle, quieting my mind once more as I felt the warmth of her cheek against my hand. Before I knew it, I was sobbing like a child. “But you—” “Shhh,” she quieted me, putting her own soft hand over mine. “I’m here, Alex. You’re fine now. You’re all right. Now, don’t tell me you’re gonna lie on that sidewalk forever, are you?” The tears turned into laughter as she pulled me to my feet, and I couldn’t hold myself back. I threw my arms around her and sobbed in joy as she held me against her shoulder, the pain in my head fading away into only a distant ache. She stroked my hair as she whispered that I was okay, that it was all right, and I finally just… let myself be held. For months, I had missed this. For months, there was an absence in my life that was my life. Without her, without my wife, I didn’t feel like I was truly living. But now she was back, and I realized I didn’t even care how it happened, how the Dealer, or whoever was out there, had done this miracle. All that mattered now was that she was here. Together, we turned around to head towards my car, and I glanced over my shoulder as we walked, half expecting to see the Dealer standing behind me. Instead, I saw the construction scaffolding above the sidewalk, the low hanging metal bar that had slipped lower than it should have been, and the little spot of blood on it from where I had banged my head. Then I felt Ella take my hand in hers, and almost immediately forgot about anything else. We went back home, to our home, where we belonged. It was a calming drive, and I felt the tension and the worry and the pain of earlier all just… melt away. When I pulled into the driveway I saw my elderly neighbor watering her flowers, and we both waved to her in greeting. I got out of the car and called out as we walked up to the porch, unable to contain my excitement, “Miss Reedle! Isn’t it a miracle? She’s finally back!” Almost instantly the smile on her face died away, and she took a step back from the fence, peering at me like I had lost my mind. “Who’s back, Alex?”
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