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"Can he give you what I've just given you?" "Please, Bart He needs me You don't knohat it's like to be needed"

"No, I don't know Only the weak depend on others for sustenance"

"You've never been in love, Bart," she answered hoarsely, "so you can't understand You take me, use me, tell me I'm wonderful, but you don't love me, or truly need me Soood to be needed, to know someone wants you more than he wants anyone else"

"Leave, then," he said, his happy tone turning quickly icy as he stayed hidden froht "Of course I don't need you I don't need anyone I don't knohat I feel for you is love or just desire Even pregnant, you're very beautiful, and if your body does give ht not tomorrow"

I could tell from her profile that she was hurt She cried out pitifully, "Then why do you want ht? Why do your eyes folloherever I go? You do need me, Bart! You do love me! You're just ashamed to admit it Please on't talk so cruelly to me It hurts You seduced me when I eak and afraid, and Jory was still in the hospital You took me when I needed him, and told ht dieand I needed someone"

"And that's all I aht you loved me, really loved me!"

"I do, I do!"

"No, you don't! How can you love ive you now!"

She left, her frail garhost frantically fleeing to try and find life

The door slammed behind her

Stiffly I rose fro with pain, like it always ached when it rained I limped a little as I neared the closed door of Bart's bedroom I didn't even hesitate as I threw it open Before he could protest I'd reached inside to throw the switch and bring his cozy, firelit roohtness

I-sized bed "Mother! What the hell are you doing in my bedroom? Get out, out!"

I strode forward, covering the large space between the door and the bed in a second

"What the hell are you doing sleeping with your brother's wife? Your injured brother's wife?"

"Get out of here!" he bellowed, taking care to keep his privates well covered, while the nity "How dare you spy on me?"