”done,”hesaidandpulledherclose.</p>
shedidntsayanythingforanutebecauseherthroathurtagain.</p>
thistiitwaswrong.hedid</p>
uand.</p>
thatanthecared.</p>
”daddy”shehear.”youleaveus</p>
alone,</p>
annoyedhinough,heuldaand</p>
youhavetogobaitytoeoostay</p>
here.”</p>
”i.”</p>
”doyouprose””iprose.”shesighed.</p>
evely,allestbitofbreath,shesaid,”ilove</p>
you.”hedidntahischeekagainstthetopofher</p>
head,andinthatinstant,thektuedbadshebelieved.</p>
ovedfrohespot</p>
herthenightbefore.frightened,sheleanedclose,</p>
closeenoughsothatthecath.”guin”she</p>
heheekhafiip.the</p>
sllestventagainstherfinger,sheletoutabreath.</p>
shedrapedanarightlyarouandlayclose,thinking,i</p>
loveyou,guinevere,iloveyou,ahewhisperofananswering</p>
purr.thenitstopped.forseveralnutes,hopedidntve.</p>
”guin</p>
”sherokedthecatsheadandedforapurr,</p>
strokedagain,edagain.herehing,sheburiedher</p>
headinguineveresolingfuraocry.</p>
”hope”jaalled,ingtothedoor.”areyouup”gulping</p>
sobsbubbledupfroheyonly</p>
greloser,hopingshewaswrong,hoping</p>
sheter.sheuldjeelit,agiant</p>
etiness,abighole,ahugealoneness.</p>
”sie”hetouchedherhead.”hope,isit”hetouchedthe</p>
cat,lefthishandthereanute,andjusthinkingthat</p>
shedidntknosheodobecauseeverythingsheloved</p>
alsaroundherandguinevereboth,and</p>
leanedoverclose.</p>
hedidntsayanything,justsatthereshelteringtheandwhen</p>
santhaaskinghey</p>
goingtoday.guineverejustdied.”</p>
”iorry,hope,”santhasaid,softlynoloseby.</p>
”oldher.”totakethebus</p>
today</p>
”hopedidnthearanansartedgagain,because</p>
theantha</p>
theonesheedjustthen.theonesheedwasholding</p>
hertight.</p>
ifaoldjackthataandhisfirbr></p>
tingfireoplankstobuilda</p>
tinyffinforacat,hetted.butitseed</p>
likethebestthingtodo.</p>
hopesatonthegroundnearby.guineverehewashwo</p>
babyafghanthatrarochetedandthathopehadslepthfor</p>
thefirsteightyearsofherlife.tattersandall,itwasherprized</p>
possession.onceshe,shestoppedg.she</p>
heldherbuhoughitweregold.</p>
jarto</p>
nail.</p>
allffinwasfinished,hedugagr</p>
...</p>