“You’re probably safest with me,” she says, “But that’s relative.”

I don’t know when the conversation started, but she emanates comfort, and I’m very much in need of that. The world is spinning, in color. Or the colors are spinning in the world. Either way, I take the offer to sit. She looks at me with playful gravity. “The vampire lady put something in your drink,” she continues when I say nothing, “And I’m not letting her get you. Because one of us will, now that she’s called it. I’d rather it be me.” She smiles with sincerity. “So do you.”