not because i was avoiding him per say , but because i wanted to avoid anything to do with talking about clay , what happened , and the all-important what now ? i remembered that day so clearly , so vividly , that it felt like yesterday instead of over a month ago . i could see that it was safe ; perhaps it was too safe . i watch her chest as it rises and falls . he wanted to at least introduce himself . '' the green wishes to protect her . to which charles did not respond . 