The trouble look on his friend's face did not do much to alleviate the trepidation in Courfeyrac's heart. He wasn't sure he could believe his eyes either, not because he believed it could be an illusion, but because he'd never expected to open his eyes again. Once a soul has made up his mind to die, it's a difficult matter to allow it to consider the living again.

"Of course it is me. Is it truly you, Marius?" The firm hand on his shoulder felt real enough to suddenly force him back into the land of the living.