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Watching Russell tap his way down Ce Uneasiness and insecurity rose like the fullto ht bathed the frozen ground I understood why my father spent so low I retreated into my father's blackened house

Ellie curled up on azed at the Ortolan's house and the h bare tree lirandfather's and Count's graves, never i

Shannie was quietto Atlantic City any too hard on the road "At least for a while"

"Why not?" I hoped that my enthusiasm didn't betrayher arm as she downshifted I loved the aloof finesse which she operated "I'm sorry"

"Why should you be sorry? I know you can't stand her"

"Okay… WOOOOOHOOOOOO!" I hooted "SCORE"

"Don't patronize me!" Shannie fell into silent concentration "Just James," Shannie broke her silence as she pulled into the Rehab's parking lot

"Yeah bug?"

"Ahhh, never et it okay" She avoided rabbed my hand Her touch was clammy "Promise me, promise you'll never leave me I almost lost you I couldn't live if I lost you Promise you'll never leave me; promise you'll always be here If I lost you it would killsomewhere within my soul

If I was smart, I would have asked her to marry me Instead I said: "I'm here, I've always been here You always leave and I alait That's not a pro, that's the way it is" I slipped h the rest of my day

A couple of weeks later, Shannie wrote in ateway to the soul

Our

Out of- warmth

Out of warmth - Love

Out of Love - Us

Beyond anyone - I remember you