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This time, I don’t need to open the vial I force ned to steer h this

Slowly, I feel the panic dissolve, until I can hear the distant crash of the waves again, and the call of the gulls circling on the beach

I’et to work

I head out totape, and a carton of extra-thick refuse sacks I start in the hallway, and work ories: trash, donate, and keep It’s tough work, and by the tiht fades outside theand the sun sets, I’m hot and sweaty and tired, but the kitchen isn’t even half-way packed

My cellphone rings Daniel I put down the packing tape and answer "Hey babe"

"Hey, is everything OK?" Daniel sounds concerned "You said you’d call when you got there"

"Oh" I stop "Shit, I’ht into the packing," I add quickly, like an excuse "Get it done faster"

"Oh yeah? How’s it going?"

I look around at the e sacks "It’s way h "I don’t think I’ll be back by next week There’s just so"I had a feeling Reo pack up his office? There was like, twenty years of old newspaper clippings all filed away to sort"

"Right" Some of the tension in my chest eases Daniel understands--he always understands I picture his brown eyes, and lazy smile; he’s probably sprawled on the couch with a beer by now, his reward after a long day in the law library "Still, I’ my lip "I wanted to be back to study, and you have that first big final next week"

"It’s OK" Daniel sounds unconcerned byall weekend Except, I miss you"

"I miss you too," I reply softly

"Hey, how about I coests "Two pairs of hands will be faster than one, and I could use the break I’ve been staring at the sa, it’s all a blur"