“Why did you really come?”

The woman stayed silent for a few seconds. All that could be heard was the waterfall outside, that deep continuous rush like a memory that never entirely leaves.

“Because I got tired of being feared by people who would not survive one day of my life,” she said at last. “And because I heard that up here you’ve managed something outrageous. To not need witnesses in order to be yourself.”

Ellie laughed. “Good line. Almost stolen from a book.”