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That afternoon they traveled in silence through the crowded streets, past sreen against ashed buildings and the cobalt blue sky

Arriving at the private airport used exclusively by royalty and the wealthiest of the wealthy, Tair walked Tally from the limousine to the jet on the tarmac

He moved to take her elbow to help her up the stairs but Tally shook hi her away he didn’t need to be so damn helpful

He entered the jet with her, checked toher small knapsack on the cream and red wool carpet

Fighting tears, Tally stared at the carpet, thinking even her khaki knapsack looked forlorn

“You’ll be home before you know it,” Tair said “Soon this will just seem like a bad dream”

She shook her head She couldn’t speak, couldn’t le sound

Tair leaned forward to kiss her goodbye but she stepped back,away If he didn’t want her, he couldn’t kiss her, either

“It just wasn’t mean to be,” he said

“You don’t love h they were horrible to say

He was silent and then the answer came “No”

Tally turned away so she wouldn’t have to watch him leave But as the airplane door closed Tally felt as if her heart was being ripped apart

He didn’t love her

Four words, four little words but words with the power to cut Crush Break her

Like he just did

Tally couldn’t even cry, not then, not during the flight that went on and on Not while the taxi took her froled to unlock the door of her apartment