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“I love a o,” Savannah whispered “I really love him”

Janice plunked down on the edge of the desk “Does he love you?” she asked

Savannah nodded, staring at her hands Useless, those hands Nu without Matt to touch

“Well, honey” Janice sighed “Men are simple creatures and that’s the truth If they love you, then they’re yours It’s just the way it is”

“He wants…too much…too much from me”

“Well,” Janice huffed “Bill tried that, too, in the beginning and I told hiirls in those porno filht red “Maybe we’re not talking about the sas”

“He wants o to hi it made Savannah’s stomach hurt and her head dizzy

“Well” Janice stood “That’d be all right A nice trip—you could take Katie” There was a colanced over her shoulder

“Well,” she said, “everyone’s a little wound up out there I better go take care of things” Janice patted Savannah’s shoulder and brushed back the hair she’d been wearing loose for soh Matt would even know “You take whatever time you need, Savannah When Joey was sick last year you were so good to me and I’m happy to return the favor”

Janice was gone and Savannah’s office pounded with quiet

She pressed hands to her head

It had been four weeks since Matt had left Four weeks and three days The first week she’d kept thinking he would be back He had to co porch Five shirts Four pairs of pants The files His bag His toothbrush

But as the first week faded into the second week, she realized he was leaving these things behind the way he’d left her, and the shirts seemed sad The pants forlorn

It had only gotten worse She slept in those shirts Carried a river stone she’d found in the bottone, used the last of his shampoo

She was losing it Every day seeht full of misery