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The Four Horse into a rodeo I slapped a hand over lass of water that Kopano had given er screa open the door and falling into the last stall just in time

One by one I lost each drink, then I flushed the toilet and slid down the wall until I was sitting on the remarkably clean tiled floor, knees up tosick at the other end of the bathroom I leaned down and saw under the stalls that it was the two girls fro while her friend stood behind her I sat back up and squeezedme alone in the restrooe from that dark utility hall e to be sick again

I heard a scuffle outside the bathroo, and then the door opened

"Anna?" Oh, no "Ann?" My heart compressed with pain at the sound of his voice

"I’m fine, Kai" My throat was raspy

Footsteps echoed off the high ceilings until shiny black shoes showed under my stall door

"You’re sick Let me in"

"No I’m fine now"

"Shall I send Marna, then?"

"No I just want to be alone Go away in case the spirits co pause and I prayed he would hurry and leave, because the e I knew that when theycry that needed no witnesses Please don’t say another word

"You did well tonight" The reluctant senti me wide open

"Go," I said thickly "I want to be alone Please just go away!"

There was a weird chanting sound co from the people outside, and as I strained to listen, still unable to usedown Cheers erupted and party horns trilled

"Happy New Year" His feet turned to leave, and the moment the door clicked shut behind him I dropped my head to my forearms and wept

"Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall"

--William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

CHAPTER THIRTY

SOME BY VIRTUE FALL

Someone knocked onSix thirty! I shuffled down the hall, unable to stand straight My stomach was still upset, and h the peephole I opened the door and he walked right pastfor the kitchen