I contemplated the impermanence of his company. Soon, he would be gone. The air would again be silent, my hand once again cold. Eventually, that feeling of comfort he dissolved into my bloodstream would turn into a trickle and run dry with his absence.

The rocks began to shift. Deep in the earth, large portions of rock were moving, and the opening of the cave narrowed. He yanked his hand away.

"Carl!" I screamed. He disappeared.