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Uncle Boone didn’t try to say more I stood up and hurried back to my room Where I could be alone Where I wouldn’t have to talk

Aunt Coralee came and knocked on my door a few minutes later I assured her I was okay and wanted to be alone and didn’t want to talk about it

She didn’t argue with me

An hour later my bedroomslid open, and West stepped inside His face was etched orry and concern I stared up at hi with my knees folded under me The hollowness where the pain should be shattered, and the first tears broke free

He was on the bed, pullingstarted While I was safely tucked against him, I cried for all I’d lost All I’d never have I cried for ically she’d died I cried for West and his dad And I cried forat Brady’s, looking through old photo albums several weeks later, that I realized who she was

It was the Christo to Tennessee for his faed his mo it was, but he was my best friend So I went

We always took our football and tossed it outside, even in the snohile the party went on The only time ent in with everyone was to eat There weren’t any other kids but a girl I had seen her a few years ago, the last ti, but I hadn’t seen her this visit Not that I was looking

Brady had gone inside to help his dad, and I’d decided to explore the house I didn’t get far before I heard so whoever it was didn’t noticethere in the doorway But she lifted her head, and the prettiest green eyes I’d ever seen looked directly atdark hair framed her face The pink-and-silver bedroo from a fairy tale It fit her

She sniffled and continued to look at me I wasn’t sure if she wantedMy , so I’d walked over and sat down beside her

"It can’t be all that bad It’s Christhten the mood I didn’t mention the fact she reminded me of a princess and I’d never seen one of those cry on television

She sniffed again and wiped at her face "It doesn’t feel like it," she’d whispered back