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"Hurry and get well," I told him

Roy remained behind with him and Daddy and Mommy and I returned home

It had never been so wonderful to set foot in my own house, my own room, to breathe the air, to see the flowers and the lake and hear Mrs Geary's lecture about being foolish I even enjoyed her pressure to le drop Of course I couldn't It took a while for my appetite to return but I had no doubts that it would

Mommy hovered around ht, ho she was the one nervous about h and sneeze Roles had been reversed, at least for a while

My grandparents caenuinely impressed When everyone left us, however she told me she was impressed for different reasons

"I never thought you had the guts to do soirl"

"It doesn't take guts to do so stu

pid Aunt Alison" "Just think of it as an adventure" she said "That's what I do"

"Are you happier because of that?" I shot back at her

She glared at me for a moment

"You know, you're just like your mother," she said

"Thank you"

"Oh forget it," she cried, throwing her hands up and changing the subject to tell un to date

When I asked her if she loved hiht a moment and said "I wouldn't know if I did'

She looked very sad and for the first time I think I truly felt sorry for her It was al or hear beautifulShe was incapable of being truly, deeply happy She was being honest She wouldn't recognize love So and she knew it and mourned it and was bitter because of it