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My throat is tight as I whisper, “Okay”

There’s no arguing with Doctor, but oes dead I put the dress away and start on soup I’ers Blood pools all around the rings, so dark there in the shadows that it looks black

I put the rings away, bandage my hand I curl up in an armchair while the soup burbles The house feels empty

I can’t bring myself to call him

I don’t sleep but remain curled there in the chair until the sun is up When other voices echo down the lane, it feels safe enough to rise

Twenty-Two

Finley

I open the door to find Dorothy standing onwickedly as she leans against the door frame

“Tell me all of it, trollop You know I need to slurp back every detail”

“Slurp?” I lift my brows, and she lifts hers like a mirror

I runin her lovely yellow dress and red sweater, her vibrant lipstick “What have you got on, then?”

She runs her hand down the fabric, which looks a bit like silk

“You were there when I …” She twirls her hand in the air as if hter

“You’re dressed for him!”

She makes a duck face “I’m dressed for me, but he could benefit”