"Oh, Zira! Zira! My love! You have no idea what it feels like to see you again!"
Cornelius was ecstatic. More than ecstatic. He felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Zira was here. Everything would be alright. Things would eventually return to normal. And if not? Well, at least the two of them had each other. Oh, and he was glad. So very glad for that.
He returned the kiss gratefully. He even added a second. And a third, for good measure! Just to be sure that she was really there. Really and truly there with him. And she was! Oh thank the heavens.
"Oh, it is all so very confusing, my love. And difficult to explain. And I am not sure if this is the best place to be talking about it," he said, turning his head to glance about at the street cars and passerbys. "Come. Walk with me."
Cornelius took her hand in his own and led her out of the alley and down the sidewalk.
"All this time I have been here without you. I thought I'd never see you again!"