She couldn't contain herself any longer -- the vision had spoken, and he seemed so real, it had to be him. Nearly choking on a sob, Lucy ran toward him, closing the distance in seconds, and threw her arms around his neck. She didn't think of his cane or possible injury. It had been far too long and she didn't have her head about her at the moment.

"Oh, it's you, it's really you," she continued to mumble, feeling his face as if her fingertips were trying to remember what he looked like. She kissed both his cheeks and hugged him again, touching his hair and wiping her tears on his shoulder. "I had -- I had thought the worst -- I didn't know what to do --" She could hardly string complete sentences together.