Blackfoot Forest i'm always chasing time

she came to him, and he to her — mona drew close with a grin dying fast upon her lips.
"cortland?"
her voice was small, tremulous; she searched in his expression for the recognition that did not come. and he did not speak. mona's breath came faster; she glanced to the ground, then to her brother's soundless lips, and to the gaze that struggled to know her. what had happened to him? why had ... she had —
"cortland tobias, it's your sister. i'm your sister, mona. mona antha." surely these names would break him from whatever reverie clouded now his eyes. but the girl could not hide the dull ache in her chest, and now all the old guilt of how she had not kept him close arose, and threatened to choke her. "cort, please!"