She felt like she could forget.

With him it didn't hurt and it was almost good, almost soothing, because she didn't have time to think, and she could only feel, feel happiness. He was her relief, a drug, a hot shower. She could forget because even when they were talking about how cold it was outside, she was comforted, like he was wrapping a blanket around her when she had been cold for so long. Before she knew it, even after he was gone she was still warm. Maybe the cold, her cold, was finally being tamed by something greater, something powerful, like the hot sun in summer.

But no, she realizes. Summer always gives way to fall, to winter. And so it does.