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We are the exiles, he had told her in parting We are the ones who understand the truth and always have; that is our pain in life Hoell he knew her

The rabbit atching her guardedly His black eyes, unblinking, shone like drops of ink; in their curved surfaces Alicia could see the ghost of her face reflected, a shadow self She realized her cheeks hy could she not stop crying? She scooted forward to the cage, undid the latch, and reached inside Soft fur filled her hand The rabbit made no attempt to escape; he was either tahtened to react She lifted the aniht, Otis," she said "I’ the soft fur, for a very long ti door: Amy opened her eyes

Hello, Pim

The woman halted in the entryway She was tall, with an oval face and expressive eyes, and wearing a simple cotton dress of blue fabric Beneath its soft drape, her belly arced with the bulge of her pregnancy

I’ned

A look of deep uncertainty, and Pim stepped to her bedside

May I? Aainst the curving cloth The force within, being so new, exuded a pure feeling of life--if it were a color, it would be the white of summer clouds--but was also full of questions Who a, or just a part?

Showaway Amy unfastened the buttons of her dress and drew the fabric aside The stripes on her back, the burns--they were faded, though not erased Tied and burrowed quality, like roots running under soil Aths In the untouched places Pi wared with remembered pain

Amy buttoned the dress; Pim swiveled on the ned I feel like I’ve known you all my life

And I you

Pim’s eyes were full of inexpressible emotion Even when…