As the last performers retreat back into the ceiling—the flowing cords of fabric trailing behind them like the tendrils of a jellyfish—the lights slowly come up. Like a dimmer switch, Aiden’s arm slowly eases off of my shoulder with the brightening of the lights, and as we begin walking behind the mass of bodies in front of us we’re completely silent. The moment right after his arm leaves me, it feels like I lost something, but then his hand finds mine, the way it did at the Steam Pig. Except this time he doesn’t pull it away after a few steps. He holds on as we’re caught in the current of people around us, slowed to a crawl as we filter out of the small door of the exhibit room and back into the expansive warehouse around it.

When we finally reach the doorway and pour out into the open warehouse, Aiden is holding my hand so tight it should be uncomfortable. Except it’s actually sort of amazing. We walk faster, picking up pace until we’re almost pulling each other, frantic, as we make our way toward the exit. We’re not running, but my breath is catching, caught in my throat, my heart racing right along with me. Aiden makes a sharp left, and I follow one step behind, still connected by our magnetic hands. There’s nothing in front of us except for a wide expanse of open concrete, but Aiden’s charging ahead with a clear goal in mind. And then I see it, the little red letters overhead, waving us in like the lights on a runway. E-X-I-T.

Aiden shoves the door with his shoulder, and there’s more concrete as we enter the small corridor of the stairwell. A flight of gray steps goes down, and there’s a metal ladder bolted to the wall, but the little space is empty. Aiden pulls me in behind him and then releases my hand.

He smiles slowly and closes the gap between us. His hand slides along my neck, and he’s pressed against me as his lips hit mine. It’s soft and warm and effortless. Like the way he pushes us in the canoe, strong, but not rough. Smooth. And I feel it everywhere, vibrating through me like the music in that tiny room, filling all of the gaps that have been left in me lately.