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“Lifestring? Quaint Your sister didn’t cut it herself?” she asks in surprise

“You lot do that?”

She frowns “Why wouldn’t we?”

“I just thought you had doctors Morphone Crystal glasses to sip from”

“Please Only Pixies use ave birth to irls is the hs Maybe she realizes we’ve got so in common after all “Hilarious really I’ve seen thatI’ve seen hi like a leaf soon as he saw me dilate Like he’s never been down there before Men If I asked him to cut the cord, he’d probably faint It’s the mother’s job You should know that”

“My sister chose who got to cut it,” I say “It’s an honor”

“Oh please Itshe’s too weak to do it herself It’s is you start, Blister Remember that when you have a little squirt What statement does itthere o over you like you’re a plague victiresses don’t need nursemaids Neither should we”

“My sister wasn’t weak”

“Maybe not But she let others convince her she was”

“You do realize we’re not all you”

“I’m dreadfully aware of that”

“Act all high and hty Fact is you can afford to be brave If that’s what you wanna call it Bet you had doctors on standby A whole teaif she would die No blood bags, no plasma”

“Did she hee?” Victra asks

I nod “I didn’t know so “I loved her so much You knoas afraid My hands were shakin’ on the scissors so bad I thought I’d take out ht they’d shoofor , pale as milk Of all those women, she chose me Me” I shake my head “It doesn’t mean you’re weak to ask for help But we’ll do it your way”

I head to the door