his words were soft , slow , and delivered with the patience of a man who 'd spent nine and a half years alone in a six-by-nine cell . this was his reminder to me . he answered with a larger than normal smile . his hair was long , grey and filthy . they found a seat away from the dancing . i do n't know , because there was no reason to question it , i suppose ; it was just something that happened , and i knew no different . i like you , but just as a friend . 