Seven years ago I met the girl who could find the seams.

You've got to see what Danny can do!

I let myself be dragged across the park, past the swings into the big oak tree, where a girl with a long black hat the fellow children surrounding her, sighed and set a book down.

Can I help you?

My best friend at the time, Jacob, beened and plopped a stuffed bear on a lap. Do the thing.

Luca hasn't seen you do it yet, he said.

Danny looked at me and my gaze immediately went to my shoes.

You don't have to if you don't want to, I murmured, feeling embarrassed about all the fuss my friend was causing.

Jacob scoffed and crossed his arms.

You don't even know what she does yet.

Come on Danny, show him.

I don't mind showing you, she said,

before picking up the bear.

She brushed her fingers against its face and she said before picking up the bear.

She brushed her fingers against its face and she smiled before she took a middle finger and

ran it from the top of its head to its tummy.

Like she'd taken a sharp knife to it. The bear split open, revealing white stuffing

and the red heart that had been placed in there when Jacob got it. She lifted it up to show

it to us all before plopping it back on a lap and running a finger along the tear.

When she pulled a hand away, the bear was whole again, like she'd never ripped it open.

Jacob scooped the bear back up and turned to me.

Cool, right? he said.

...