Inari still had ups and downs. She still struggled to speak about her condition without becoming overwrought. But she was starting to become more comfortable with herself, by degrees. It was slow progress, but it was progress.
And ever since Bob's visit, she'd been craving touch. The past few days, that had meant falling asleep with Harry's cat curled up at her feet (sometimes at her head and shoulders, or anywhere else he damn well pleased to curl up), or stretched out on the floor with a good book, and Mouse' fluffy body as a headrest. She'd even gotten brave and invited Daniel over, and they'd spent an afternoon putting puzzles together and eating junk food.
Today, she was thinking about Bruce, and she felt a hopeful little thrill when she heard the knock on her door. She smiled even more brightly when she saw that it was him. "I was just thinking about you."