They should respond to that. They're pleased, the think. They know they're glad to be. They know this means a lot to Lemm, for him to say. And they can't articulate this in a way that feels right, either.

The table is small. It suddenly feels far too big a space between them. They can change that again, and they rock in place once.

But Lemm's been uncomfortable.

But they're friends.

I would like to hug you again, they write finally. Not quite a question, not quite insisting.