I am here, seeing you—“਍ऀᰀ䌠愀渀 礀漀甀 攀瘀攀渀 栀攀愀爀 礀漀甀爀猀攀氀昀 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀㼀ᴀ†䠀攀 愀猀欀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䬠椀洀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀椀挀欀攀搀 洀攀 漀甀琀℀ 夀漀甀 欀椀挀欀攀搀 洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 欀椀搀猀Ⰰ 漀甀爀 欀椀搀猀 漀甀琀 愀渀搀 渀漀眀 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 愀挀挀甀猀椀渀最 洀攀 漀昀 搀愀琀椀渀最 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀㼀 䨀攀猀甀猀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀㼀ᴀഠ

  I couldn’t speak; I was trembling.਍ऀᰀ圠栀愀琀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Are you dating her?”਍ऀ䠀攀 猀椀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ丠漀Ⰰᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ匠栀攀ᤀ猠 洀礀 挀氀椀攀渀琀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Client? You don’t do interior design anymore—“਍ऀᰀ圠攀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 搀漀 渀漀眀Ⰰᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 栀愀搀 琀漀 昀椀渀搀 洀漀爀攀 眀愀礀猀 琀漀 攀愀爀渀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀㼀ᴀഠ

  I bit my lip.਍ऀᰀ丠漀眀Ⰰ 挀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 樀甀猀琀 最漀㼀ᴀ†䠀攀 愀猀欀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 栀愀瘀攀 愀 洀攀攀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 礀漀甀 猀漀 挀氀攀愀爀氀礀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀⸀ᴀഠ

  “I’m…sorry,” I said silently.਍ऀᰀ圠栀愀琀ᤀ猠 眀爀漀渀最Ⰰ 䬀椀洀㼀ᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀 椀渀 栀甀猀栀攀搀 琀漀渀攀猀Ⰰ ᰀ删攀愀氀氀礀㼀 吀攀氀氀 洀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  I shook my head.਍ऀᰀ圠栀愀琀㼀ᴀഠ

  “I…I can’t,” I said, trying hard not to cry, “I…have to go.”਍ऀ䠀攀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ 猀栀漀漀欀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 愀渀搀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 栀椀猀 戀愀挀欀 漀渀 洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䤀 眀愀猀 氀攀昀琀 眀椀琀栀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最 漀渀挀攀 洀漀爀攀⸀ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ***਍ഀ

  I went home and realized what I had to do. I hurriedly put my bags down and went straight to the side table where the phone was. I picked it up and dialed an old friend’s number, which I had memorized on purpose. A few days ago, he e-mailed me asking whether or not I was interested in a cruise. He also sent me the brochure, and I remember smiling as I saw the places where the cruise would be to: Catalina, Italy, Australia…so many places. And then I remembered that I was sick.਍ऀ吀栀愀琀 䤀ᤀ搠 瀀爀漀戀愀戀氀礀 戀攀 琀漀漀 猀椀挀欀 琀漀 琀爀愀瘀攀氀⸀ഀ

  That I may not even be allowed to travel.਍ऀ吀栀愀琀☀ഠ

  Well, all those “that’s.” But after I saw Mark at the coffee shop, I felt like I had nothing left to lose. Yes, it was my fault, I kicked him and the kids out, but I just had no idea what to do. And now I do.਍ऀ䄀昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ搠 戀攀 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀 眀漀爀氀搀 猀漀漀渀Ⰰ 眀栀礀 渀漀琀 搀漀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 眀愀渀琀Ⰰ 爀椀最栀琀㼀ഀ

  I dialed my friend, Melo’s number. He picked up after a couple of rings.਍ऀᰀ䠠攀氀氀漀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Melo?”਍ऀᰀ夠攀猀Ⰰ 眀栀漀ᤀ猠 琀栀椀猀㼀ᴀഠ

  “It’s Kim,” I said, “Kim Larsen-Wickham…”਍ऀᰀ䠠攀礀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀洀椀攀☀䠠漀眀 礀漀甀 搀漀椀渀㼀ᴀഠ

  “I’m alright, uhm I was just wondering if the offer for the cruise is still available?”਍ऀᰀ吠栀攀 挀爀甀椀猀攀㼀 伀栀 礀攀猀Ⰰ 瘀攀爀礀 洀甀挀栀⸀ 䄀爀攀 礀漀甀 挀漀洀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 昀愀洀椀氀礀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Oh, no,” I said, “Actually…I’m thinking of going alone.”਍ऀᰀ䄠氀漀渀攀㼀 䄀猀 椀渀Ⰰ 愀氀漀渀攀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yes…”਍ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 戀甀琀Ⰰ 甀栀洀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀Ⰰ 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 猀甀爀攀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yes, I really wanna do this right away.”਍ऀᰀ传欀愀礀☀传甀爀 渀攀砀琀 琀爀椀瀀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 琀眀漀 搀愀礀猀 昀爀漀洀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 戀攀 愀琀 琀栀攀 一攀眀瀀漀爀琀 倀椀攀爀 戀礀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 㐀瀀洀Ⰰ 眀椀氀氀 琀栀愀琀 戀攀 漀欀愀礀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah, sure.”਍ऀᰀ䬠椀洀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah?”਍ऀᰀ夠漀甀 漀欀愀礀㼀ᴀഠ

  “I’m fine, thanks.”਍ऀᰀ传欀愀礀☀猠攀攀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Thanks.”਍ऀ䤀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀 愀渀搀 瀀甀琀 琀栀攀 瀀栀漀渀攀 搀漀眀渀⸀ 䤀 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 昀爀椀搀最攀 琀漀 最攀琀 猀漀洀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 瀀栀漀渀攀 爀愀渀最⸀ 䤀 瀀椀挀欀攀搀 椀琀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 愀渀猀眀攀爀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 栀攀愀瘀礀 戀爀攀愀琀栀猀⸀ഀ

  “Hello?”਍ऀᰀ䬠椀洀㼀ᴀഠ

  I sighed, “Caroline.”਍ऀᰀ圠栀漀愀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀ᤀ猠 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 猀椀最栀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Nothing.”਍ऀᰀ䴠愀爀欀 琀攀砀琀攀搀 洀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  “I knew he would.”਍ऀᰀ䬠椀洀Ⰰᴀഠ

  “Carol, could we just not talk about this?”਍ऀᰀ䬠椀洀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 琀愀氀欀椀渀最Ⰰ 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 瀀氀愀挀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  “C, I’m very busy. Please…Just…”਍ऀᰀ䘠椀渀攀Ⰰ 椀昀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀渀愀 琀攀氀氀 洀攀 眀栀愀琀ᤀ猠 眀爀漀渀最Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 椀琀ᤀ猠 愀氀爀椀最栀琀⸀ 䈀甀琀 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 琀攀氀氀 䴀愀爀欀⸀ 䠀攀 栀愀猀 琀栀攀 爀椀最栀琀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ 栀攀ᤀ猠 礀漀甀爀 栀甀猀戀愀渀搀Ⰰ 愀昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀⸀ᴀഠ

  “I can’t talk about this…”਍ऀᰀ䬠椀洀Ⰰᴀഠ

  “Bye, Carol—“ I put down the phone and cried, as I usually do most days now.਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍㌀ഀ

  ਍䰀攀琀 洀攀 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀 眀栀愀琀 礀漀甀 昀攀攀氀 氀椀欀攀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀ഀ

  you are ready to die You sleep a lot, and when you wake up the very਍昀椀爀猀琀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 椀渀 礀漀甀爀 栀攀愀搀 椀猀 琀栀愀琀 礀漀甀 眀椀猀栀 礀漀甀 挀漀甀氀搀 最漀 戀愀挀欀ഀ

  to bed.You go entire days without eating, because food is਍愀 挀漀洀洀漀搀椀琀礀 琀栀愀琀 欀攀攀瀀猀 礀漀甀 栀攀爀攀⸀夀漀甀 爀攀愀搀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 瀀愀最攀 愀 栀甀渀搀爀攀搀 琀椀洀攀猀⸀ഀ

  You rewind your life like a videocassette and਍猀攀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀欀攀 礀漀甀 眀攀攀瀀Ⰰ 琀栀椀渀最猀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀欀攀 礀漀甀ഀ

  pause, but nothing that makes you want to play it਍昀漀爀眀愀爀搀⸀夀漀甀 昀漀爀最攀琀 琀漀 挀漀洀戀 礀漀甀爀 栀愀椀爀Ⰰ 琀漀 猀栀漀眀攀爀Ⰰ 琀漀 搀爀攀猀猀⸀ഀ

  And then one day, when you make the decision that you਍栀愀瘀攀 攀渀漀甀最栀 攀渀攀爀最礀 氀攀昀琀 椀渀 礀漀甀 琀漀 搀漀 琀栀椀猀 漀渀攀Ⰰ 氀愀猀琀Ⰰഀ

  monumental thing, there comes a peace. Suddenly you਍愀爀攀 挀漀甀渀琀椀渀最 洀漀洀攀渀琀猀 愀猀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀渀✀琀 昀漀爀 洀漀渀琀栀猀⸀ഀ

  Suddenly you have a secret that makes you smile,਍琀栀愀琀 洀愀欀攀猀 瀀?
??漀瀀氀攀 猀愀礀 礀漀甀 氀漀漀欀 眀漀渀搀攀爀昀甀氀Ⰰ 愀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 礀漀甀ഀ

  feel like a shell--brittle and capable of਍挀爀愀挀欀椀渀最 椀渀琀漀 愀 琀栀漀甀猀愀渀搀 瀀椀攀挀攀猀⸀ ጀ䨠漀搀椀 倀椀挀漀甀氀琀Ⰰ ᰀ䬠攀攀瀀椀渀最 琀栀攀 䘀愀椀琀栀ᴀഠ

  ਍ऀ倀愀挀欀椀渀最 洀礀 戀愀最猀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 愀猀 栀愀爀搀 愀猀 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 最椀瘀攀渀 愀 搀攀愀琀栀 猀攀渀琀攀渀挀攀Ⰰ 攀瘀攀爀礀搀愀礀 樀甀猀琀 猀攀攀洀猀 氀椀欀攀 愀渀 攀砀琀攀渀猀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀氀氀 礀漀甀 眀愀渀渀愀 搀漀 椀猀☀搠椀攀⸀ 匀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 樀甀猀琀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 栀攀氀瀀 戀甀琀 昀攀攀氀 琀栀愀琀 氀椀昀攀 愀椀渀ᤀ琠 眀栀愀琀 礀漀甀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀㬀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀ᤀ猠 渀攀瘀攀爀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 椀渀 礀漀甀爀 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀☀愠渀搀 礀漀甀 樀甀猀琀 眀椀猀栀 琀栀愀琀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 最漀 琀漀 猀氀攀攀瀀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ搠 渀攀瘀攀爀 眀愀欀攀 甀瀀⸀ 吀栀愀琀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 最漀琀 漀 猀氀攀攀瀀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀ᤀ搠 戀攀 渀漀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀洀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 渀漀 洀漀爀攀 瀀愀椀渀⸀ഀ

  An hour or so later, I found myself at the JFK airport, holding my luggage. I was making my way towards the waiting area when I felt dizzy…and then things turned pitch black. And then I fell.਍ഀ

  ਍ऀ⨀⨀⨀ഀ

  ਍ऀ圀栀攀渀 䤀 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 洀礀 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ 愀渀 䤀嘀 搀爀椀瀀 眀愀猀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀 琀漀 洀礀 愀爀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䴀愀爀欀 眀愀猀 猀椀琀琀椀渀最 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀椀爀 戀礀 洀礀 戀攀搀猀椀搀攀⸀ 䴀礀 猀椀猀琀攀爀猀 眀攀爀攀 漀渀 漀渀攀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀 戀攀渀挀栀 眀愀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 琀栀攀 搀漀挀琀漀爀⸀ഀ

  ਍ऀ⨀⨀⨀ഀ

  ਍ऀ吀栀攀 搀漀挀琀漀爀 氀攀昀琀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀攀 最漀琀 琀漀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀 洀礀 猀椀猀琀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 䴀愀爀欀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀 琀漀氀搀 䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 渀攀攀搀攀搀 琀漀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀 洀攀 愀氀漀渀攀Ⰰ 猀漀 洀礀 猀椀猀琀攀爀猀 氀攀昀琀⸀ 䤀 猀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 栀漀猀瀀椀琀愀氀 戀攀搀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀 瀀愀挀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最 栀愀爀搀⸀ ഀ

  “Mark,” I said silently.਍ऀ䠀攀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 椀渀 昀爀漀渀琀 漀昀 洀礀 戀攀搀 愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 洀攀⸀ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 猀椀挀欀⸀ᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀 猀琀攀愀搀椀氀礀⸀ഀ

  “Mark,”਍ऀᰀ䠠漀眀 挀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 搀漀 琀栀愀琀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀㼀ᴀ†䠀攀 愀猀欀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䠠漀眀 挀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 渀漀琀 琀攀氀氀 洀攀㼀 䤀ᤀ洠 礀漀甀爀 栀甀猀戀愀渀搀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 猀愀欀攀℀ᴀഠ

  Tears started to fall down my face, “I’m…sorry.”਍ऀᰀ䠠漀眀 搀愀爀攀 礀漀甀℀ᴀഠ

  “Mark,”਍ऀ䠀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 挀爀礀Ⰰ 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀ ᰀ䤠 氀漀瘀攀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀㼀 夀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 洀礀 眀椀昀攀 愀渀搀 䤀 氀漀瘀攀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀漀眀 挀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 氀椀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 氀椀欀攀 琀栀椀猀㼀 䬀椀洀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最㼀ᴀഠ

  “I just…I didn’t know what to do.”਍ऀᰀ圠䔀䰀䰀 夀伀唀 䠀䄀嘀䔀 䴀䔀℀ 夀伀唀 䠀䄀嘀䔀 唀匀℀ 䐀䤀䐀一ᤀ吠 吀䠀䄀吀 䌀刀伀匀匀 夀伀唀刀 䴀䤀一䐀㼀℀ᴀഠ

  “Mark, please…”਍ऀᰀ䬠䤀䴀℀ 吀䠀䤀匀 䤀匀 䄀 匀䔀刀䤀伀唀匀 䴀䄀吀吀䔀刀Ⰰ 夀伀唀 匀䠀伀唀䰀䐀一ᤀ吠 䠀䄀嘀䔀 䨀唀匀吀 䰀䤀䔀䐀 䄀䈀伀唀吀 吀䠀䤀匀℀ᴀഠ

  “MARK, PLEASE!” I was crying pretty bad at that point.਍ऀ䠀攀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀 愀渀搀 猀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 戀攀猀椀搀攀 洀攀⸀ 䠀攀 栀攀氀搀 洀礀 栀愀渀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 猀漀爀爀礀☀䤠ᤀ洠 樀甀猀琀☀䤠 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 最攀琀 椀琀☀圠栀礀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 礀漀甀 琀攀氀氀 洀攀㼀ᴀഠ

  “I couldn’t…It was too much to bear…I couldn’t even bear the thought of leaving you and the kids…of being away…they’re just so young, Mark. They’re so young…I couldn’t let them see me die.”਍ऀᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 渀漀琀 最漀渀渀愀 搀椀攀℀ᴀഠ

  “I am, and you know it,” I said, “There’s no point in denying the truth, You heard what the doctors said—“਍ऀᰀ匠漀 琀栀愀琀ᤀ猠 椀琀㼀ᴀ†䠀攀 愀猀欀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 最椀瘀椀渀最 甀瀀㼀 夀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 氀攀琀琀椀渀最 愀氀氀 琀栀攀猀攀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 爀甀氀攀 礀漀甀 漀瘀攀爀㼀 圀栀愀琀Ⰰ 䬀椀洀㼀ᴀഠ

  “It’s out of my control this time, Mark.”਍ऀ䠀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 愀渀搀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ氠氀 戀攀 昀椀渀攀Ⰰᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ眠攀ᤀ氠氀 戀攀 昀椀渀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  I didn’t say anything; I didn’t know if I could believe him.਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍ഀ

  ਍㐀ഀ

  ਍䈀甀琀ഀ

  all the same, I'm hugging myself as if I'm਍猀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 挀栀椀氀氀攀搀㬀 愀猀 椀昀 䤀✀洀 猀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 眀愀爀礀 漀昀ഀ

  falling apart. –Jodi Picoult਍ഀ

  The following afternoon, my kids and I were having afternoon snacks (fruits for me) in our dining room. They moved back last night and I got out of the hospital this morning.਍ऀᰀ䴠漀洀㼀 夀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 攀愀琀椀渀最 愀 氀漀琀 漀昀 昀爀甀椀琀猀℀ᴀ†䴀礀 攀氀搀攀猀琀Ⰰ 䬀甀爀琀 猀愀椀搀 愀猀 䤀 猀氀椀挀攀搀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 焀甀愀爀琀攀爀 漀昀 最爀愀瀀攀昀爀甀椀琀⸀ഀ

  “Well, your dad thinks I’m still a baby…”਍ऀ䴀愀爀欀 猀栀漀琀 洀攀 搀愀最最攀爀 氀漀漀欀猀⸀ 䤀 爀漀氀氀攀搀 洀礀 攀礀攀猀⸀ 䨀甀猀琀 琀栀攀渀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀戀攀氀氀 爀愀渀最⸀ഀ

  “I’ll get it,” I said.਍ऀᰀ丠漀Ⰰᴀ†䴀愀爀欀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 瀀甀琀琀椀渀最 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀昀昀攀攀 洀愀欀攀爀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 猀栀漀甀氀搀⸀ᴀ†䠀攀 眀椀瀀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 愀瀀爀漀渀 爀攀猀琀椀渀最 漀渀 琀漀瀀 漀昀 漀渀攀 漀昀 漀甀爀 挀栀愀椀爀猀 愀渀搀 洀愀搀攀 栀椀猀 眀愀礀 漀甀琀 琀栀攀 搀椀渀椀渀最 爀漀漀洀⸀ ഀ

  “So, how’s school, Kurt?”਍ऀᰀ䜠漀漀搀Ⰰ 洀漀洀℀ᴀ†䠀攀 攀砀挀氀愀椀洀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䴠礀 琀攀愀挀栀攀爀 最愀瘀攀 洀攀 琀栀爀攀攀 猀琀愀爀猀 礀攀猀琀攀爀搀愀礀Ⰰ 䤀 搀椀搀 最漀漀搀 椀渀 愀爀琀℀ᴀഠ

  “I know you will—“਍ऀᰀ䈠甀琀 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀Ⰰᴀ†?
?? 昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 瘀漀椀挀攀 猀愀椀搀 昀爀漀洀 戀攀栀椀渀搀⸀ 䤀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 椀渀 洀礀 猀攀愀琀 愀渀搀 猀愀眀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 洀礀 猀椀猀琀攀爀Ⰰ 䴀椀渀搀礀Ⰰ 眀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 琀愀琀琀漀漀攀搀 栀愀渀搀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 栀攀爀 戀漀礀昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 倀愀甀氀Ⰰ 琀爀愀椀氀椀渀最 挀氀漀猀攀氀礀 戀攀栀椀渀搀⸀ ᰀ䠠攀 最漀琀 洀礀 最攀渀攀猀℀ᴀ†䴀椀渀搀礀 眀椀渀欀攀搀 愀猀 猀栀攀 最愀瘀攀 洀攀 愀 瀀攀挀欀 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀攀攀欀⸀ 䤀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 倀愀甀氀 眀愀猀 栀漀氀搀椀渀最 愀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀 漀昀 戀愀最猀⸀ഀ

  “Minds, hey,” I said. “What are you doing here?”਍ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 䤀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最☀ᴠ†匀栀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ删攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 倀愀甀氀㼀ᴀഠ

  Paul gave me a nod and a smile.਍ऀᰀ夠攀愀栀Ⰰ 栀攀礀☀ᴠ†䤀 猀愀椀搀⸀ 䤀 猀琀漀漀搀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 琀漀 䴀椀渀搀礀 愀最愀椀渀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最☀眠椀琀栀 愀氀氀 琀栀漀猀攀 戀愀最猀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Easy, sister, I just wanted to spend some time with