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"I just wanted to help her," she said to the audience, interrupting hi wrong?"

Their applause was loud and went on and on, their approval as unconditional as their presence It should have filled up the empty places in her, that had always been their role, but now the applause didnt help

Soh the rest of the broadcast

Finally, though, she was as alone onstage as she felt The audience had filed out and her ee to even speak to her on the way out She knew they were angry at her for a Johnny, too

As if fro toward her

Dully, she looked up

Johnny stood there "How could you do that to her? She trusted you We trusted you "

"I was just trying to help her You toldapart Dr Tillman told me that drastic situations call for drastic measures He said suicide was—"

"I quit," he said

"Buttell her to call me Ill explain "

"I wouldnt count on hearing from her "

"What do you mean? Weve been friends for thirty years "

Johnny gave her a look so cold she began to shake "I think that ended today "

Palethe white-painted sills Outside, seagulls cawed and dove through the air; the sound, coainst the shore,past their house

Ordinarily, Kate loved these h shed lived on this beach for years now, she still loved to watch the ferries pass by, especially at night when they were lit like floating jewel boxes