42 Pretend Friend

- VANESSA -

I'm sneezing by the time we pull back into the courtyard of the man castle, which is what I've decided to call it in my mind. Man castle sums it up pretty well. 

"You're getting sick." Dominik unbuckles and turns to look me over. 

"No, I'm okay." 

I'm feeling very exposed. This outfit is a good idea in theory—when it's Kisa wearing it working at the club. But it's not something that feels like me yet, and I've been talking to Dominik as myself—as Vanessa. Vanessa is not comfortable having so much body visible. 

It's weird. I never talk about my shadow vision. I just haven't ever been able to. So the fact that I've been discussing it so openly with Dominik could almost trick me into believing that we're real friends. I've been able to open up more to him in a few days than I've been able to open up to any of my family members over the course of a lifetime.