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“I don’t know” She shrugged “I nearly died It has made me cautious for what I wish for”

Later, when he was sleeping, Aphrodite rose, wrapped a silk robe about herself, and took her diary fro in it, and now she wanted to read over her thoughts Sitting down in a cos tucked up under her, she opened the red leather-bound book and found her place

I have not been to Dudley Street for many years My father died and my o again

I wearand I walk the streets I used to knoell, but still I feel their stares of resent here anymore, and the people know it

I think of Jemmy I cannot help it I wonder if he is happy with his wife and whether he has children He has made the life for himself that he wanted for us, at a time when I was too foolish to realize what a treasure he was offering

My mother sits in her chair, her flesh loose upon her bones She has dark hair and eyes like me, and she used to say ere of Gypsy stock She does not sayaard conversation with my brother’s wife, who takes care of her now

It is strange To sit in the parlor, to look upon people ere once so faers My mother is so small

“Do you re after you not more than a month past”

I don’t knohat to say I cannot iine what he wants

“Sohs “He only just heard you were alive”

I look at my mother then, and see her eyes And I re me that Jemmy ed Was that a lie, too?

“Why?” I ask her,with the pain “I loved him”

But she smiles “You didn’t deserve him after what you did You stepped outside the place you were born into You turned up your nose at the life you were given”

Such bitterness, and for what? Because I dared to be different and follow ain no differently But would I?

Je for me!