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"You sent Dad the obituary, school’s done and I wouldn’t go anywhere without telling Mom"

"You have no idea how much this means to me," he says His head jerks back and he squints "Did you say obituary?"

"It means a lot to me, too," says a woain And it doesn’t stop I can’tscreaet away It’s not just hysterics It’sin two Into pieces Multiple pieces It’sup and blinking and the scream stops for a moment as my body forces in air and the next sound is a sob I o back any farther and I need to get back I need to get away and run Run as far as I can

But I can’tout of the coffin One leg after another It’s cli fro, but I don’t want to hear it I don’t want it to touch me

"No!" It’s the first word I can articulate, but it’s hoarse and slurred through the sobs

"It’s okay" It’s Eli He’s behind ainst a wall Eli’s arainst him "She’s not dead, Emily She’s not dead Stay back, Mom"

Two feet from me, it halts its advance The arht you knew"

I’h I didn’t know it until now A ainst Eli, not trusting what I’ to confirlances behind randmother, Olivia Mom, this is Emily"

I suck up the snot inuntil I can understand that my mind is still intact She smiles and it reminds me of Eli’s smile, but hers is a little hesitant "Let’s take this somewhere a little more private"

I clutch Eli’s hand and a blast of heat races along my body She stares at me I stare at her and as I attempt to respond, dizziness disorients me, and warmth rushes from my toes to my head My mouth opens and the pathetic breakfast I ate on the plane lands squarely on Olivia’s shoes

Oz

"EMILY FREAKING OUT--that was some funny shit" Chevy bites into the mammoth ham sandwich he created from the meat tray Mom prepared for the party Except for me and Chevy, the kitchen area of the funeral home is empty We sit at the table while everyone else atte on