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She sat awhile with Mar, the two of the It was possible, Sara understood, for life to go on too long, as it was also possible for it to end too soon Maybe it was his fear of leaving Mar alone that was keeping Gabe alive

Eventually Sara rose, placing theon the cart "If he wakes up, see if he’ll drink this," she said

Tears of exhaustion hung on the corners of Mar’s eyes "I told hio"

It took Sara a lad you did," she said "Sometimes that’s what a person needs to hear"

"It’s Jacob, you see He doesn’t want to leave Jacob I told hio now That’s what I told him"

"I know you will, Mar" Her words felt small "He knows it too"

"He’s so daoddamn stubborn all the time?" Then she dropped her face to her hands and wept

Sara waited a respectful ti she could do to ease the woman’s pain Grief was a place, Sara understood, where a person went alone It was like a rooer and the pain you felt, was meant to stay there, nobody’s business but yours

"I’ her head "You shouldn’t have had to hear that"

"It’s all right I don’t mind"

"If he wakes up, I’ll tell hied a sad smile "I know Gabe always liked you You were his favorite nurse"

It was half-night by the tihthouse She quietly opened the door and stepped inside Elton was alone, fast asleep at the panel, earphones clamped to his head

He twitched awake as the door closed behind her on its springs "Michael?"

"It’s Sara"

He re the air "What’s that I sh"

"Well, I’ll be" He sat up straight in his chair "Bring it here"

She placed it before him He took a dirty spoon froht the lamp if you want"

"I like the dark If you don’t mind"

"It’s all the salow of the panel There was so al the spoon into the pot and then to his waiting esture wasted

"You’re watchingto her cheeks "Sorry"

He polished off the last of the stew and wiped histo be sorry about You’re about the best thing that ever coirl like you, you watch hed-out of embarrassment or disbelief, she didn’t know "You’ve never seen me, Elton How can you possibly knohat I look like?"

Elton shrugged, his useless eyes rolling upward behind their drooping lids-as if, in the darkness of his e was there for him to see "Your voice How you speak to me, how you speak to Michael How you look after him like you do Pretty is as pretty does, I always say"

She heard herself sigh "I don’t feel like it"

"Trust old Elton," he said, and gave a quiet laugh "So about being around Elton that made her feel better He was a shameless flirt, for starters, but that wasn’t the real reason He simply seemed happier than anyone she knew It was true what Michael said about hi; it was si different