Amidst shades of grey strangers, there was a free-spirited color that rose from a sheer breath at the center of the room.

It could smile and it could see. I hoped it had a heart that beat harder, just like mine did. It casually leaned back in one of the chairs with one hand in the air, saying, “Here,” facing forward while its eyes fixed on mine.

I learned its name. It ended with an e, and it began with a c-huckle. We didn’t know what was funny, but it was funny. It— no, we laughed.

_“Hey.”_

_“Hey.”_