`` the thing i fought the first night we met in your dreams . '' `` wonderful , '' i whisper , `` because i 'm not standing on it . '' i take everything into the front room and set it on the table . `` you can hear the front door open from all the way up here ? '' we were beginning to wonder when youd show up . it was two inches long and appeared smooth and shiny . i took in a deep breath , and with it calm and control . 