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The Golden State

Elsa swept her children into her ar so deeply it see to the dark Relief

Hope

LOREDA SCREAMED

Mo the hairpin turn at a crawl

The cars behind them honked They were a caravan of jalopies now, a bu down a mountain

Loreda clung to the ers ached and the sunburned ridge of her knuckles turned white

The ain, so sideways

Moearshift down

Loreda screae of a jalopy in the ditch, lying on its side

“Quit bouncing, Ant”

“I can’t My pee’s startin’ to come out”

Loreda slid to the side again The door handle pinched her skin hard enough that she cried out

And then, at last, a huge valley stretched out in front of the Loreda had ever seen

Bright green grass, flowering bits of color, maybe weeds or wildflowers Or