She’s heard dolphins make new skin constantly, that this is why they move so fast: Esperanza is sure Allison must work the same way. It’s the only way she can possibly look so fresh, the only way her skin can be so endlessly new. Even her smile lines are bright, youthful. Even her stretch marks.

She could watch Allison forever, lying there, making new skin every second. She’d make the sun stop, or the earth stop, whichever it takes to make sure the angle of this light on her thigh never changes.

But. Esperanza sighs. She’ll have to be untied eventually.