I Left the Charcoal Markings on My Palm

A man of about 25 stood outside on the top step. He wore a heavy flannel shirt that was two sizes too big and stained dark blue sweatpants over a pair of ill-fitting corduroys. The power had gone out and he did not have any candles, so he asked to borrow some. I said yes and invited him to come inside while I looked for them. After a long moment he came in. As he moved past me there was absolutely no sense of physical human presence"