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“If neither of you wanted her, then…” I couldn’t bring myself to actually ask the question, because it was so inappropriate I hardly knew her, but the conversation went deeper and deeper as she shared her life with me

She pulled her gaze away froe me, but I just don’t care anymore, not e’re in this place…not e’ll die in this place I suggested we take that road, but he said no”

“I don’t judge you, Beatrice” My hand , her self-loathing “She’s here, so it doesn’t matter what your decision would have been otherwise”

She dropped her gaze “He’s been out of the game since she was born, and I’ve never been certain of what he actually did, but he et us out of here…if he’s stayed in contact”

“Then let’s continue to hope, Beatrice Maybe he’ll come Maybe he’ll save us” If I hadn’t seen him in the flesh, I would take no solace in her words, but he was a strong ht that towered over me His ar down the surface of his skin He carried himself like he was somebody, not just a random person nobody would remember And the look in his eyes showed the depth of his love for his daughter Without hearing him say more than a feords, I could feel that deep and unconditional love he had for her, that eternal and never-ending love that would send hiet her back He would never stop searching He would keep looking, keep asking, keep trying…until he took his last breath

6

Benton

I sat at the dining table in ainst the , creating a gentle frost in the corners because fall was accelerating into winter far quicker than usual

My empty plate sat in front of me, crumbs left behind from a dinner I forced myself to eat instead of to savor and enjoy Claire used to help me cook She would stand in front of the stove and push the veggies around while I took care of other things Nohen I cooked, I lost my appetite…because her memory haunted me

But I had to eat I had to stay strong I had to be ready at a moment’s notice

The glass of wine only had a few drops at the bottoht shine from the chandelier up above The house was quiet because I never watched TV or listened toy she’d left behind I didn’t take jobs and ignored calls for work because I chose to spendto h that was fucking pointless

My eyes were down until I heard the chair across fro My senses weren’t what they used to be because ht not have heard Bartholoed to do it