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Not a fan of the dark, I’ down the hallway I move around the corner and a clink froht floods her room, she lifts her head off the pillow, and our eyes meet

A sudden drop of my stomach disorientsExposed is the dark hair shaved close to her scalp and a crescent-shaped scar near her ear

"Are you okay, EJaer and had a nightet a washcloth Do you need anything?"

"Co for, but I go in regardless I stand at the foot of the bed and twistlike a pauper in front of royalty--which is strange, but maybe not Everyone treats her as if she’s the queen

Olivia pats the empty space next to her "Turn on theunit and sleep in here"

"I’et--"

"Eet in the bed, I won’t eat you, but I will tear you a new ass if you don’t do what I say"

I have neverout with Oz I press a button on theunit Air blasts from theon One leg off "You’re not used to people telling you no, are you?"

"No If you’re going to be here for any length of tiet used to it"

While her roo-sleeve shirt and is buried under a quilt My other foot hits the floor and I reach for the air conditioner "You’re cold"

I push the off button and search the room for another blanket How the freak can she be cold? It has to be in the high eighties in the house

"Emily Star, turn that back on!"

"You’re cold," I say

"And you’re hot There isn’t much I’ve been able to do for you for fifteen years and, because of the cancer, there isn’t a ton I can do for you now so please let me do this"

There’s a fierceness in her eyes A warrior’s soul in a body that appears frail tonight

I press the unit back on and cold air once again roars into the room I return to the es up and lock theles deeper into the blankets

I peek at her from the corner of my eye and she adjusts onto her side to face me "Eli will be ho to know your father"