( She comes close, too close — and he is wary. Skittish, stepping back vehemently — as if she fears what she might do. As if she is certain to — )

Don't hurt me.

( — put the pain in him.

Only, he doesn't wait to learn, doesn't give her the chance, she'll take it, older people always do. He disappears in the same snowfall of ash and mould as the dust he'd called up earlier.

Gone, with his umbrella. )