Carrie and Keith 7

True to her word, Carrie walked by the next day. She put her hand on his arm.

"How are you?" she asked and smiled up at him.

Keith felt himself smile back and he didn't want to stop. "OK."

"Good," she said and squeezed his arm before starting to walk away.

"Hey," Keith said and Carrie turned back to him. "Why do you always do that?"

"Do what?"

"Touch me," Keith smiled again as she bent her head to avoid his gaze.

She shook her head and shrugged. "If it bothers you, I won't do it anymore."

"No. I just wondered."

Carrie stepped towards him and took his free hand, holding it in both of hers. "Touch is very healing and life affirming. Both for the person doing the touching and the one being touched." She looked up at him. "Does that make sense?"

Keith swallowed hard. He tried to say yes, but no sound came out. He had to resort to a short nod.

"For some people, though, it's painful. And if it's that way for you, I'll stop." Keith felt Carrie's eyes searching his soul. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. Slowly he shook his head. Time seemed to stand still while he pulled Carrie's hand to his lips and kissed it. She blinked her eyes several times, then lowered her gaze. He let go of her hand.

She took a step back from him, then looked up into his eyes again. "Wow."

Keith laughed. "Wow?"

"Yeah. Wow." She turned and walked away.

Keith watched her all the way to her house. When she reached the driveway, she turned and waved to him before disappearing down the driveway. He turned and limped into the house.