WE WERE WATCHING television when we heard the sound. It was strange and yet familiar at the same time, a sudden hiss of air or water, some element let loose in a hurry. It was loud, too. Graeme turned the television up and then, after the second whoosh of sound, he muted the set and we both sat up, listening.

We were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, his feet pointing towards my head, my feet adjacent to the stretch of his body. It was a large corner couch and there was a lot of soft space between us. Velure. I was in my bra and pants because I liked the feel of it on my skin while I watched television, and I had to reach for my dress and slip it on before following Graeme outside.