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"Bathrooals to wear See you in the ," he said, and shut the door

Jenni sat on the bed and sighed She watched as Katie tossed off the hunting jacket she had worn on and off since she had rescued Jenni Katie sat on the bed beside her and kicked off her high heels and sighed

"You want to shower first?"

"Katie, are we co on her knees, and looked toward Jenni "Maybe It see her hair fall into her face "I just…" Jack nosed her hand and she started to pet hiht now I know To entle arm around Jenni’s shoulders and leaned over to kiss her cheek "Too much to deal with…"

"I felt safe in the truck," Jenni whispered "I know that sounds stupid, but I felt safe with you driving and Jack on s and be behind bars and it feels…"

"Like a prison?"

"Like I’o out when Lloyd isn’t withto…" Jenni faltered It was hard to explain that today had been theto Katie and wept

Wept out of guilt because she did feel free and wept because she was free only because Lloyd was gone and so were her babies

Katie held her tightly, her fingers lightly stroking her hair It took Jenni a , too

"It’s okay We’re safe and we need to remember that," Katie said softly

"Tomorroe’ll do e have to do And the day after that And the day after that"

Jenni nodded and held tightly to Katie "Okay…okay…I trust you" And she did With all her heart

When she finally ca ater, Katie was the one who coently with a towel, then helped her into bed For a moment, Jenni felt utterly safe and content Tears still flowed and her sobs came in soft hiccups, but she felt comforted by Katie’s presence

"It’s okay to cry now," Katie whispered

Jenni nodded and covered her face with her hands and wept

Wept for her dead children, the dead world, and for her new found freedom…

2 The Moment

The water sluiced off Katie’s body as she sat at the bottom of the old fashioned tub co on her knees and her hands flat on the tops of her feet, she sat sobbing softly How long she had sat there, she wasn’t sure, but the water was growing cold Soon after clirief and had slid down to her knees and cried Sobs had wracked her body with such viciousness that her body now ached

She missed Lydia so much it was a palatable, physical pain in her stomach

All it had taken to start the torrent of tears was the e had started Every night, she and Lydia would jog through their neighborhood and up into the hills before co home to a nice bath, a simple dinner, and ether and fall asleep to the gentle sound of each other breathing

It had been bliss

But now…

All she heard was the da in volu up outside the building

The water was growing colder

She reached out and turned off the flow and struggled to her feet Her body hurtout of the shower

Landing hard on the ain

Rage filled her and she kicked the door to the cabinet under the sink again for good ers, she snorted and sniffled, her nose running wildly

Why…hy…gawddammit…why…

She buried her face in her hands and curled her knees up to her chest and sobbed

A gentle hand on her damp hair made her raise her head Jenni’s face swam before her, pale and concerned Jack sat at her side, yawning, and looking bleary-eyed

"I just can’t," Katie whispered

Jenni stroked her face and her ht "Can’t what?"