He hates how they abandon people. How they let people slip away, while spinning on in their selfish little worlds as though nothing has changed.

He watches her now, sometimes, when she forgets how to watch out for herself. Some nights she catches him and they sit for a while in silence on the steps of the residence hall.

He wants to reach out across the distance, touch her hand and draw on her warmth. Remind her that she's beautiful, let her speak low and musical.

He wants to reach out. But pain and fear and Willow crowd between them.