She sat on the edge of the bed, and he sat on the other side, each with his back to the other, as if he were sitting on the other side of the world. Is this the real distance that has become between them? She did not see his face, but she did not know that he was in pain like her. He wanted to hold her, but he resented her to the utmost extent. He would not allow any creature to manipulate him, even if she was his lover. They sat in this position, not knowing how much time had passed, but they must have thought that an eternity had passed.