Proximity

If she ever wondered why he always stood so close, she never asked. It was just as well because how could he explain? That she was warmth when he was cold. But it was more than just her warmth, though that was a draw. But there was so much more to the answer. That he needed to be so close so that he could catalog everything for when she was gone. When his world had shattered, he'd been glad for his attention to detail. For lavender and coal tar, for strawberries and cream. Now what he had left was cinnamon.