I Bit A Pillow. Or

After A Few Decades, Everyone You Know Will Be Dead. Problem Solved.

Like We Were Connected, The Echo Of His Pain Twisted Inside Inside Me. His Pain, My Pain.

I Can Hear Them On The Floor Below. They Will Find Me In Miuntes, Or Seconds. I Scrawl The Words On A Dirty Shred Of Newsprint. They Are Nearly Illegible, But If He Finds Them, He Will Understand: 'not Fast Enough. Love You Love Jamie. Don't Go Home' Not Only Do I Break Their Hearts, I Steal Their Refuge, Too. I Picture Our Little Canyon Abandoned, As It Must Be Forever Now. Or If Not Abandoned, A Tomb.

I Could See How Easy It Would Be To Fall Into Loving Bella. It Would Be Exactly Like Falling: Effortless. Not Letting Myself Love Her Was The Opposite Of Falling—it Was Pulling Myself Up A Cliff-face, Hand Over Hand, The Task As Grueling As If I Had No More Than Mortal Strength.

She’s Just A Little Faint,” I Reassured Mrs. Hammond. “they’re Blood Typing In Biology.” She Nodded, Understanding Now. “there’s Always One.” I Stifled A Laugh. Trust Bella To Be That One.