[The hand grasping his chin causes Ian to suck in a deep breath, the memories stirred by last night's dream fresh in his mind.]
If I die, what then?
[The words are out before he knows he's said them, and as soon as he realizes he's spoken aloud Ian's shoulders tense. But he won't take them back, and he won't back down from them.]
Will you go through life, alone and rejecting anyone who comes close?