" I said after we stopped kissing."I won't tell anyone I promise." Janell said."I know, it's just that it's a little awkward talking about it with my ...girlfriends sister right here." He said."You already know how close we are baby so either way I'm going to tell her so you might as well just say it." I said making his bump start growing."Over seven, well, it's a few centimeters short of eight." He said while he looked in my eyes."Inches?!" Janell asked."I believe it, he's way bigger than my ex,. The kids were on their best behavior, as they always were on holidays or when Grandma was around, but this time, they showed a maturity I hadn't noticed before. Hannah would graduate from high school in six months, and Michael was studying for his driving learner's permit. Seeing these young adults made me feel even older than my reflection in the mirror.“Mom, I got the confirmation e-mail last night. Everything is set for our New Year's weekend with the family in Wellsboro. Our rooms are. His hip applied a discreet pressure to mine. I let it go without comment. He told me his name was Johnny, and I told him mine. I also provided him an opportunity to peek down my dress, but he ignored it and leaned into me, hip on hip so that I was suddenly thrown off balance. Of course he caught me and restored my equilibrium. I had no choice but to thank him."You're welcome, he said. "I'm more than delighted to assist a lady in distress." But I'm not in distress," I answered somewhat. He worked his way into my fingerprints. Fingerprints do change. They are lives. You can read a fortune upon them and, if you follow the curves, distinguish individual pain. Fingerprints burn and cry and bleed longer, harder than eyes ever could. I wash them daily, my scars and fingerprints. Caress them. Sometimes I see him. Just long enough that he can thrust himself back into my life. Long enough for the wound to be torn farther to add bacteria to the contaminated flesh. I sit in the shower.