Alex stared at her for a few moments, then gave her a true smile. "I hope you're right. Welcome home Addie, I've been waiting." He didn't tell her he had given up long ago, both on her and himself, but he felt she knew anyway.
Alexander raised his hand halfway, but hesitated. After a moment her dropped it again, eyes downcast. "You might have kept your promise Addie, but I'm not sure I did. After you left, I... I couldn't... I did..." He looked up agai, and for a mement he was a ten year old boy again, appoligizing to his only friend. "I'm sorry Admaris, I'm not the same person you knew before."
Alex slowly stepped out of one of the doorways down the hall. Eyes wide, his face showed the only real emotion they had for almost 20 years. For a few moments, he stared in disbelief, trying to understand what he was seeing. Finally, he opened his mouth and said one word. "Admaris?"