He prefers the quiet. Salem doesn’t like people, doesn’t like noise or crowds or heat. He doesn’t like a lot of things.

But he likes you.

“Keep reading,” he says, voice scratchy from disuse. He hardly speaks but a few words most of the time. Salem likes listening to you talk, though. You’re the same, both of you have pasts that linger, but neither of you ask the other about it. There’s a certain peace that comes with being near you.