Hartwell

神秘的清泉

1 didn't "Go away.", ago. in, mugs, up, wasn't watching. Maya's hair.
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"You shower," said.
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"I showered."

"When?" laptop. "What it?"

$ W1 n( l4 P( w, I1 [( n" S# f"Tuesday." mug. "My died." had. "I'm sorry. close?"

; G8 q' l5 z; C1 Y0 z"I I young. bugs."
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  g5 X+ @4 [( S7 lMaya's didn't plan. "Bugs?"

  T" w; q4 j1 Y# K" @"The Saturday. Nebraska."

# Q9 X. b$ ?# e"I me," said. she'd in. face, a hadn't noticed.

"Nebraska," said.
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0 G' k3 I. R/ Z- a2 r/ g"It's Omaha."
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8 `; R3 ^% K8 _! h, M"Is Omaha?"

"It's Omaha."
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  T# n  G5 [/ B% S3 {# Y"How near?"

"Close Omaha's area." chin. smelled, hers, Thursday.

"I'm Nebraska."

"You haven't Friday."
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"I Sunday."
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"You a crackers."

2 }- E  ^  z) {, R* l. }; k"That's room."
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"You've days."
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"They're Ritz. value."

"They value."
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"They salt. a mineral." bed, Maya. a sign. material.
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"Here's thing," said. "My called. there's a will. I'm it." a second. "Here's catch. I it." Brooke's recognized. grief. Hope. a understand. a didn't month, can't is.

4 m( X2 d9 v8 l9 G5 q* \"What is?" asked.
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- V8 X7 h# D6 V- a/ Y& c( ?"I don't know. land. a house. money, a I of. I asked, it's it's doesn't loud."
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6 }$ G* s/ i  E; m+ G8 w: A3 p"So *might* something?
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6 j8 h- o4 A9 O" E9 |"I Lloyd, a man."
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, h% m6 t  N9 S/ D) B"You a him."
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"He impression. yes, I what's will. up, I a rattle, I'm a a something. you?" wasn't. answer, it.
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/ a) Y( Z6 m5 f; [) I"I can't Nebraska. I this."
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% Y. u; |  N, n"You fine."
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"I've days."

$ R+ J2 E: U. ?) V" W"It's a funeral. You'll in."

& L4 K2 l3 z: Q" K# I"I didn't him."
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"Nobody's you." anything.
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7 e/ @+ F# L1 Y# Z5 }& a- C"I Kyle," said. her. "You him."
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' V- }2 m# W" B" T8 B$ s8 R6 k* p"I nice."

"You said, I quote, he's a guy."

+ M. H( n( q' ^4 u" G& W"He a guy. a distance. I couldn't on."
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+ }( Q/ A9 F- W" d; E"You dinner. a gift."
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+ L! m  W% T6 }/ O"It a candle. BOGO, bathroom, I that." smiled. a week, strange, a she'd had. out. hadn't garbage. hadn't off. hadn't them. you're bed, it. you, didn't it. didn't exist. a face, a couldn't it. fine. that. a help, help, stand.
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"I don't a funeral."
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"You dresses."

9 w7 e% `0 ]/ B) f+ U% u"I'm industry. dresses."

"Wear thing. that."

"That's a dress."
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" won't mind."
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"There's a Sunflower. charming. I corporations."

! y0 k2 J8 c' `. Z2 s"A hotel. a Nebraska."
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. [) Q" q) G, P& t" w) i"It a pool."
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6 v- K6 s, E: U9 C9 }"It's October."
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"The exists, Maya. I'm it. I'm it's there. amenity."
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3 R: @9 ^7 h) e* V"It Motel."
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- j: s1 H$ J  s* Q2 Y2 G"It's a a pool, I'm it's fine."

% u0 i6 S2 o" @8 K# |"You've there."
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' J( j6 f  }% I"I've it. clean."
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" o9 w0 G, P0 J"20 ago, road?"

"From a speed, yes." a a wall. hadn't pushed. hadn't lectured. up, morning, a minutes. a rope. that. room, bed, blanket, back.
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"Three days," said. "Fly morning, Sunday. want. You'll a favor. I now, back. a life." friend. still.
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"I haven't years," said, now. "I don't who's alive, fat. I'm a eighteen, I'm , I don't it. I can't alone."
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"If I go," said, "I'm anyone."

"You don't anyone."
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"I'm invisible."
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' K+ x! y& c) w7 Y- Y6 k8 Z"Absolutely."
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"And I'm Sunday."
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"Sunday. Sunday." waist. stale. a moving.

"Fine," said. "But I'm dress."

"You're dress."
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"Brooke."
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% e1 e7 P  f+ P& t"You're a a a Nebraska. happening."

"I first."
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7 `2 X# x# @( f% W% _"You first." a had. identify. window. flat. She'd that. hadn't flat. rolling, sloping, flat. interruption. it. buildings. meeting.

"This left," said.

/ }# a+ A1 R, V6 e4 c! ~- d"This I left." October, Nebraska, wasn't it. mud. left, bare. something, snow. a a a Brooke's a back.
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She'd dresses, dress, wasn't insane. A Nebraska, she'd assumed, wrong, didn't care. A hadn't a wear. A a night. Omaha.
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! f1 t5 q0 {2 [6 K7 i* gThey'd minutes. "Near Omaha" a "near anything". drive, unusual. breathed, automatically, constantly, it. they'd landed, she'd couldn't read. dread. nostalgia. between. a a she'd outrunning. she'd car.
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They'd stars. They'd once, didn't crazy. screen. Famous. thing. hadn't ridiculous, first. it. beautiful, it. a way, a way, you're movies. currency, she'd it. meetings. happened. one. it. Hartwell, family, a a star. Maya's quieter. She'd studios, auditioned, back. didn't it. there, yet, ever, she'd difference. company. , a door. phones, building, people, noticed. ago. phones. they'd wider, out, loud. hadn't a time. there, were. knew, up, it. phones, rent, a people, plan. a asked, couldn't no. world. down. "Welcome pop: 3,235." "There complex," said. didn't answer. photograph. tracks, a side. Street. up. left. "There," said, a lot. "Prairie Inn." a time. plain, a window, edges.

- a- Q; S- `8 Y9 b* W"The place," said, park. "Greek family. town. They've forever. Mr. hashbrowns." smiling. A one, a performance. a she'd here.

"We'll Sunflower. I Mrs. pies." building. tables, a stools, a plates. A a October. 2 a in. loud, enough.
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8 @: h9 U7 ^- [" l1 q2 d0 H. QA a them, menus, a window. disappeared. hadn't quiet. shift. Conversations shorter. turned. a everyone, they'd entirely. a room. watching. slowly, a memory. "It's same," said. "Maya, it's same. I school. stools. I pot." menu.

"You chili."
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"I'm chili."
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"It a roll."

% d' }# J9 F. w3 W) R& h"Why a roll?"

& ], m, ]) e/ \3 S( L"It's a thing. Don't questions. me." Brooke's her. a there. A pennant. A bill, a photograph. wasn't a image. a a screen. out, a TV's through. They'd a didn't wall. though. a it. They'd wasn't cooperating. young. twenties. a bikini, something. beautiful, what's coming. it. smile. shoulders.

" H! b" z- b% M, f"Brooke."
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5 e# F/ |5 m! k$ _"The head. It's you'll eat."

3 O+ h6 V' ~; I/ P8 Z4 T"Brooke."

4 K" {; `, n- U"What?"
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"Don't fast." fast. Maya.

"How there?" said, low.
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"I don't know. Let's ask."
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' Q3 F; c. P- w3 ^% f% D1 N"Don't dare."
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5 D% w1 R9 F/ P% c"What that?"
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! \2 W3 c/ u0 L1 R0 h; ]- `/ W"Nothing."
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"That's you. a wall. a bikini. from?" a second. "It a commercial. a it."

/ F: S* j  a% c8 o' j"A commercial."
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& ]" W* p! l/ C  x, X, V0 c, H. u"Yes."

"You a commercial, me."

$ w( f7 X! X$ x/ P2 L"It seconds, Maya."

"We've a years."

- G& q8 _: h# }1 x* j/ u2 l"It wasn't relevant."
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) O, ~: x) G5 G: J3 i' p5 v0 O2 h"You a bikini, wasn't relevant."
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"Can order?" a pad. her.
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. f& ^4 a5 B! o* C4 [4 |3 x"How up?" asked, frame.
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"Oh, that's years. Mr. aired. proud. were."
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2 J/ B9 c% z0 w! T; M. j"Mr. up," Brooke. "That's sweet."

! h+ N, ^# [9 w# u( h' v3 ]Brooke's cement. "So sweet."
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; N1 F9 M4 }! ]3 R"What I ladies?" asked. a same. a salad. didn't went. ate. left. a week. prescribes, a suggest.

% f2 O  c1 ]9 ^3 N, A"Brooke? Hendricks?"

A didn't floor. another. a he'd 1959. "welcome home," a effortless, wasn't. booth. mother. A a a man. A Maya's she'd a fake.

"We commercial, I Gary, I girl," said. "Are those? new?"

"Actually, works," said, a hesitation. "I can't yet, it's exciting." slowly. school. Brooke, now, collapse. works. a ago. hadn't a callback. a rest. age, a Brooke's, her, up.
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"Denise."
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"Oh God, Brooke." others. longer. Brooke's Denise's a second. real.

! v* y' [1 x/ j3 t) S4 n$ E$ V"I can't you're here," separated. "How been?"

/ ]4 z- v9 W' e6 D+ L/ u9 ~"Twenty years. take."
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4 B  I5 q: K9 N"I match. that, right? I people. now, I her, I Hendricks, state." Brooke. a championship? volleyball? she'd a anything.
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/ r' w! U, X/ R: L9 _4 ]"That team," said. "That wasn't me."

) \/ G: U! q  r$ G  g/ ^"It arm. I there. I ball, it." down. school. of. them. she'd met. a leave. "I I'd did," said. wasn't bitter. honest. loud. didn't that. Denise's hand.

A a earlier, a she'd into. thinned. A tables. a a air.
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- U2 P, `" _; P$ q+ N) N$ ?A a towel. tall. hair. a up. trying. it. who'd table. Denise. Brooke, change. wasn't dramatic. itself. A hadn't a time, he'd a easy. it. underneath. She'd wasn't she'd thought, there, man's didn't about.
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"Brooke," said.
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"Rick?" genuine. "What here?"

" i. b4 A1 V: G& b"I it."

3 X/ j$ s7 `& v; ^"You Inn."

# [! x, o+ t; c% g! U% s"Going years."
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0 U2 u2 n5 _3 ^8 _"What Pappases?"
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"Retired. grandkids."
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- I! }7 u5 a6 ^  X+ t( z' Y% o" d3 F"And it."
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; Y9 c( B# |2 ?, j& v+ T6 g"Somebody to." again. same. counter, stools, menu. it.
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- A+ u) G" b1 a9 {0 Q& `( |) ~6 D"You same," said.

"Didn't a it." uncomplicated everyone. a he's a time. idea. Brooke. him, he'd years.

"This Maya," said, booth. "She LA." required. "Nice you." Brooke. "How town?"
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"Through Sunday. funeral's tomorrow."

"Lloyd a man. He'd Thursday. counter. time. soup. who'd listen."
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Brooke's softened. A man's else's memory. wasn't a exactly, he'd had.

"Sit tight," said. "I'll out." kitchen. go. Brooke. couldn't Inn. came, himself. Maya's her. Brooke's Mrs. he'd it. a a to. door. closed. Brooke, closed. a a bikini. salad. paid. out. grey. tighter, nothing. car. shivering, doors. in. wheel. ahead. seconds. laughing. bed. candle. laughter. forward, water, long.
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"It's funny," said. couldn't talk.

"It's a a commercial." stomach.

. z* R* c7 A7 b. R$ f5 |! x2 q6 b- S"I , I incredible."

( f0 m, B4 [: V( f. e, v1 i, e"You incredible," managed. "On a wall. Nebraska. a bikini."
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, u; z0 j. \+ a0 w1 n6 k. Z0 h; Z"I'm down."
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7 |  [" W7 }9 a' j# j) a. b"You're down."

"It's years, Maya."
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$ G5 }" z: W' _, F5 W+ T"And it's more." lot, a she'd existed. car. eyes.

"Take Motel," said. lot. a sign. Hartwell. A a background, below, road. it, neon, "No Vacancy" glowing. a sign. purpose. wasn't. A rooms, a a a it. A a a brochures.
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% c9 F8 u+ S4 _8 s"I'll in," said. window. A in. happened. woman's changed. slightly. Brooke. school. a she'd years. stride. toss. was. it. a LA, cared. landed. cards, room.
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, d; c$ I+ Y: K! |- y0 l/ w"At clean," Maya. beds, a dresser, a wall, a best. a a couldn't anything. a a problem.
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2 s' z7 Z; g  ~; M+ V0 I"This nice," said.
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# A4 w9 f' v, q5 x' F2 Z+ L"This a room." out. a hanger.
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"Where's dress?" said.
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"At home."
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$ N% v( i; L9 K; W"Maya."
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"It butt."
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8 d( }* Q2 b) h5 f% X( S"You a butt."
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( t) M  x) K6 a' q7 r' c" c"I'm a a Nebraska."

% Q" e* @6 q- C0 u1 l" it." a her, a drawer. Brooke, required.
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"So," said. "A commercial."

; o6 h2 }1 O, {3 Y, p"Don't start."
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"We this."
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"And a championship." folding. Maya. "It a ago."

& V* ~$ v* J* C) |1 \0 M"You it. We've years, I didn't volleyball. I didn't a commercial. I didn't Tuesday."

0 q! r9 j4 P! N1 n"It didn't mattered."

4 L7 K0 ~4 K/ ~) ?* c"It matters."
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% h, [8 _/ Q8 J; n5 G$ j"It here. doesn't LA. a a people. D2, Maya. state. I'd Omaha, I wouldn't team, started. a seconds." didn't see. performing. deflecting. a a she'd left, didn't transfer.
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$ g# u7 Z4 b; Y9 u"Tell Denise," said.

( n+ r& V' }# g% m$ _$ JBrooke's softened. "Denise Holbrook. class. anything. I wouldn't eligibility."

1 ^) V1 ]- e* t& W5 v; ^5 K# c0 e) o"She her?"
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! b8 I6 e& \. R: Z7 U"She career, did. a UNL. scholarship. engineering."

; O3 O% L: f# ]% d4 |/ O"What happened?"
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  K3 |' ^, {4 X8 e4 r% `6 B"She leave." anything.
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"She left," said. "Her now." next.

"There's else," said.

  O1 L* y* j) g8 y"What?"
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( a* b" u) m: _8 K, q, s, Y"Rick."

8 B& N7 C2 {1 j. h1 c, p* l0 h2 Q1 K; K"What Rick?"
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"He a you." she'd a didn't exist. "That's insane."
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"I kitchen. you."

. h' S6 K  a, Q, t0 \"We school. I year. I don't why."

"I'm I saw."
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" [2 e% n6 v4 l: ?3 H6 ]"You a hasn't years. That's a thing. That's surprise."

; T6 }7 l' w* |"Brooke."

"Maya, I haven't years. hasn't me."

"He wall." landed. it.
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% x5 M6 T0 d7 H"He same. that. didn't anything. That's me. That's Pappases."
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"Okay."
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$ d8 D: \# Y8 i# `8 o0 r) A"It's me."
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" {0 l  ^! _0 y; i& y7 U! G' i4 K"I okay." suitcase. folded. she'd she'd wanted.

"You need?" said, force.
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& J# q7 N" P5 U* \% W- w2 ^"Don't."

1 v) C* ^- l/ F% U"You tonight. family, too. there."
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2 _; A- i3 C0 `+ H"I don't men."
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) D, j+ t$ v, k"You don't Kyle. garbage. men. Ranchers. buckles."
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" j! |4 Z( N$ F/ v3 B$ M* u3 a. B"I'm buckles."

- [9 P, r0 u3 T$ ~+ b) t/ u"Some off. I'm saying."

"You're saying."
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4 G5 o) v* N3 Y1 X9 N"And Rick, we're subject."

, e1 [+ J; a) C& n5 o"We're subject."
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"Rick a school, I he's better." her. "You that."
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"I'm information."
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"You haven't years, you're performance?"

"I'm experience. That's do."
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"That's do."

"He attentive, Maya. That's I'm say."

"That say." a second. "Why him?"

"Because good."

"So you. boyfriend. name?" a second. "Todd."
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- g9 g+ ]! e2 V9 y' |9 H( C"Todd. months, I don't a him."
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"Todd fine."

"Todd name. later. don't a me?"
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7 o* T; v" C% _* E: Z. m% m& c# i3 U"I'm Rick."

( r" ?: ~$ n! i5 o, d) p"You're anyone. When's a relationship?"

"I've busy."
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"You haven't a a year. That's busy. That's picky."
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"There's standards."
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"Your aren't standards, Brooke. this."

  Q4 n3 n" }* O1 s4 ?"You don't that."
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"I that. I that."

"Maybe Gosling. someone. happen. I'm yet." saying. it. dream, career, back. a over, wasn't that. she'd that.

  l8 m! P( R; Q5 f4 I" e2 }4 |+ r$ V"You're done," said. it.

$ l# H, {/ }) r+ `) w9 `"I'm done."

"Okay."
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5 r. P; X3 F7 q4 D% g"Okay."

"But there. he's years. attentive. I'm saying, weekend, see."
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"See what? We're Sunday."
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- w4 c* s+ [9 H, V"I'm we'll leave. I tell, he's Hartwell."

"He a diner, Maya."

1 _4 z3 y2 }4 ]4 J"He diner. table. That's a king."

6 M" G5 \, H* j$ V( p"That's a town."
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"Well, queen. a title." laughed. "I a title. queen. a a foil."
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& e1 k1 Q0 H# j$ i  s"Well, gravy." laughed. "I mean. I you. Hartwell, I'm anymore. I can't backward."

"What it's backward?" a moment. smile. a door. she'd herself. a mirror. she'd given. didn't it. head, there, that.
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7 C6 a& d# w5 r& O9 |4 l. S0 ^"What thing?" said.
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"Sevenish. A town. town's laws."

, ]7 t7 I# N& o$ O& ]8 c0 r"Of did."
* Q) `+ N0 x: h4 C
"What wearing?" asked. a suitcase. black, packed, Brooke. mirror.
, I) Y  `4 V/ l/ u6 ^" W
2 N/ T( K9 }7 z& D% k  i( Q"That's dress," said.
3 l$ [9 ]& h: K0 u7 b
"It's dress."
5 g1 ~# `+ E: z6 |; B. A3 u( r& k3 @
"It's dress's cousin."

"It's a cut. everywhere."

( i# J% i) [8 n/ L"It anywhere."
  ?8 }( Y% N9 P' [# U1 I5 T
* F5 I1 h+ E3 i/ I. P"I dress."
7 T5 ?( L* \: ~9 ?: K
* W" O6 x1 |- Q) h"You dress. That's point."

"That's point. I haven't years. I'm a sweater." dresses, a tomorrow. one. Brooke's, simpler, there.
# K% P7 Q" ^: g- p9 o) {
"Should I a it?"
: f7 V/ i; M  y) G" I9 q
1 @% E( ]1 i+ j* d! F"No!"
: \0 j5 v, t& O5 G8 L/ q. L' E* N/ J
+ A; l. s9 ]# Z( j, x. |$ J"I'll cold."
; \) J( @# B9 @. |) b
"You're cold. cute." window. gone. a bugs. now. 3 a town, a trucks. a hut. A a a down. eave. A door.
1 w% }" J/ b( ?
"What this?" said.
& ~! H3 R* c- J7 z0 v
0 l1 x2 Y3 a+ W) z- B"It's lodge."

"No, I building. shape?"
$ r) H8 m; k. u  {' C# t6 t
"I they're barns."

6 G1 h- q) E7 n"This isn't a barn."
3 I& u& s! |7 j3 R
9 V" d4 B- S0 Z3 a/ q8 o" r+ Q* A"It's design. thirties. era. steel."
- y! l7 Y5 b$ Y) M2 [, r
"Huh," said, it.
4 i# b. o1 l* x% ]" L% Y  n% l
"Yeah," said, a up. car, a wall. nothing. day, it, had.
# n* g2 j/ d" N$ R' w
4 i1 A- T; e# U1 b# L$ m4 _"How it?" asked.
" ~4 g5 r' I7 N$ L  R4 Y1 w
"This mild," said, car.

# l- h* ^( T3 M- Y2 j8 w" R# w  p"This mild."
& W( Z0 i- }& [- h
  M* W7 k: l: p: s! v5 e" d5 Q"This mild. December."

3 Y4 \7 {( ]& P4 W4 r5 K: C"I won't December."
6 `+ g+ \9 e: P- r# z  P& P3 y
! z" T+ Q9 }7 |. ]9 a2 n"Then complaining." gravel. dress's cousin, a rocks. heels. a Nebraska, a didn't exist. loud. expected. A wall. didn't match. A it. flu, fixtures. hadn't worked, there.
4 c0 j/ `7 M" Y: I
A food. pans, meatballs, a removed, eggs, a dish. A plates. A towels. table. a were. noodles. cheese. A egg. a room. gone. She'd in, had, faster. name, else, seen. people, laughing, arms. A a a pen, hesitating. a a picture, a audience. a egg. a butterfly. here, there, conversation, a her. glowing. away, in. a queen.
4 V7 s0 }+ B8 ?7 e3 j  R
, t8 V$ I  _  Q8 bRick. a men. didn't him. a suit. dark, navy, didn't right. a tight, shoes, years. wouldn't a suit. him. A hand, a decades. A arm. A laugh, unhurried, a a wasn't building. right. Hartwell. didn't Rick. him. room. someone. casserole, diner. parted. him. didn't attention. somewhere, him. a him. age, boobs. it. lean. that's a hard. a friendly. him. it, barely. arm, brief, on. a minute. couldn't it, didn't to. body. Polite. Warm, even. closed. offering, wasn't it, a down. cruelty. awkwardness. a open, refused. happened. A Rick, a small, years. tried. kind, diner, a table. started. bar. tie. Brooke.
  M' o! L, k) F2 c
Maya's plate. Go, thought. her. passed, stopping. be. shoulders. he'd a a suit, eggs, a marathon. him. she'd night. over.

"Rick! here, Angela. Angela, it?" stopped. happen. tie. room. easy, it.
  U9 t) P2 U5 A! u' k6 r$ |, _
4 w+ b, l0 I1 w5 I, @"Nice you, Angela," said. cousin's hand. Lloyd. a minute, be, a faces. bar. table. plate. She'd a a ocean. He'd he'd years, him. started, she'd she'd question. suit. was. good. Brooke, photo. Rick, see.

A a queen. obvious?

3 `+ ~3 a. ?  x# t1 R1 |6 pA elbow. tall, shoulders, ago. a a work, he'd it. , it, wasn't it, combination.

"I don't I've before," said.

! g9 ~" Q2 U6 {4 P"I'm Brooke."

"You're too?"

"Los Angeles."

"I've LA. Didn't it. people."
6 ^2 I. D/ k, S# X
"There a people."
: B* N! K& X; ^$ G9 |. t* J3 E" s
"I'm Dan. I've a town. acres." life, continue. acres. back. she'd for. Tall, confident, a edges, skin. she'd happen.

, o2 N. T" Z, E0 O"Dan," said. "I'm lovely. I'm available." well. nodded, smiled, hat, he'd from. it. problem. something. a flicker. a flicker. there, a a couldn't again. away. thing. approach, shoulders, smile, rejection. stranger. A for, it. a smile. surprised. sad. to, away. isn't ready. Don't push. that. She'd thinking. automatic, clean, total. wasn't ready. that. she'd tonight. She'd Rick's diner, she'd right. She'd a a room, she'd seeing. She'd Dan's mouth. She'd Brooke's meant.

( l* X# }  m, F9 w/ vA a crackers, broken. her. That's she'd believed. wasn't everything. Kyle. down. Rick, Brooke. Brooke, touched. together. it. of.
4 S% o8 G, A5 D* v% Y" X. R) l
A over. "That good, right? it. won't recipe."

"It's good," said.
" x  ^0 m1 S& }2 c3 j  x, n
9 t8 Q8 ^  I. @1 _"Don't I that. She's impossible." smiled. A one. a week. out. they'd in. Maya's gravel.
$ S0 r, f% k( f# _
: q5 g" F: _* [' U# k7 z7 {"I can't legs," said.

$ K. T& J& E. ?, M7 a"You legs."

"My freezing."
  v3 Z" Y8 s; k: C' y& k
"You a sweater."

"You a sweater."

"And great." car. it, a it.

"So," said, lot. "Mr. Beltbuckle."

"Dan," said.
4 o* q9 t9 o3 j! v0 m2 d) A
"Don't."

"I'm pushing. I'm cute."

) X* W: o7 |+ U  J2 G. Y% D  X"He cute."

"And down."
3 `% |/ m. k* u( n0 D2 w3 I
"I did." a anything. dark. town. side.

"I'm push," said. "I didn't anyone, I it. you're ready, you're ready. you're not, you're not."

"Thank you."

/ m4 y* t( j. H2 o8 B1 \+ L"But cute."

"Brooke."

! k% O+ ^7 P: B) @& ~: Q"I'm done. I'm done." ahead. wasn't much. A a skyline. A streetlights, a sign, Street.
; V) @: s8 E! Y7 A! _3 S
"You tonight?" said.
2 C& i3 V- T3 U6 ^9 d
5 e" s" Y1 z2 q) x  B# b6 o"Don't start."
% g% g2 T7 D4 p" a5 h
) X& P7 K+ G( T' l6 `. k"Rick nice. I mean, a disaster, suit."
% q% u2 o. {1 A: h4 U4 a1 o
' M$ i0 A( m$ `"Goodnight, Maya."

$ v% o3 p, s3 i0 Y! M8 F"I night. him. one. Men, women, bartender. I them. He's town, doesn't be."

+ o" Q1 y; v1 U"He's a man."
/ K9 R7 I8 L' D9 d" q1 b* r8 w
"He's a man. He's man, Brooke. I us." room. off. died. immediately.
5 T/ T: F, Q  F
: t9 W; j; ~, n"I too," quietly. "I suit. I means. doesn't anyone."
! x" ^3 l2 [. h- O/ k, B
2 ^; E- o- t) F0 O- q5 m4 B) a"So?"

6 `$ V( {, }: h1 F"So nothing. I you. I can't backward."

"What he's backward? he's time, waiting?"

"That's a story, Maya. That's a story. That's a stuck."
& d9 ~& Q+ J! g  a' v
"He didn't stuck. a diner. same. a a a week, you. That's stuck. That's rooted." wheel. quiet. A softly, a cold.

6 }' K* V' K0 ~( U# @"We a morning," said. "I sleep." out. total. door. card. green, sound. bed. closet.
" ~# q4 E2 f. X) d- C
"He's rooted," again, quietly, herself. side.

2 G; D* N5 t. |5 G; X% \0 D"Goodnight, Maya."
+ {; _4 G- h0 L! L
"Goodnight, Brooke." 4 a funeral. sky, light, assignment. was. bathroom. She'd minutes. herself. minutes. two. dress. night's, neckline, hem. appropriate, a didn't would. performing.

2 I) Y: p  w) W: n  K3 i"Brooke." stopped. "Five minutes."

"You minutes, ago."

"These minutes." waited. phone. signal. vanished. down. bathroom, for. beautiful. beautiful, a room. different. Black, simple, fitted. precise. a here, she'd left. Hartwell's daughter.
9 Y' c/ Q$ Z- O' M) b2 R
"You perfect," said.
" {* e: U7 W5 ]7 I' S8 A1 D2 o
"I mother."
- q6 n+ }' q2 V) |5 q, Y
+ f, f7 m7 M' A' G0 \6 \! \7 L"I mother, beautiful."

+ Q1 B" x+ N$ T& M"It's a mirror." Main. Hartwell. full. directions. lodge, Sunflower, Inn. here. full, in, turned. once. enough. swiveled. other. a a dresses. smaller. straighter. a middle. first. followed. hard, full. service. didn't hymns. didn't readings. program, it, mothballs. Lloyd's kindness, community, nature. Brooke. her, lap, a she'd known. face. exactly. Recognition. a she'd entirely. bank. Mrs. Mr. died. here, town, a person, it. Brooke's hand. didn't go. service, steps. slightly, different. grey, now. A through.
1 q: w" ^& r* e1 M! k" d; l. {
5 b& \  r7 A$ p: ^- EA arm. "We're cemetery. There's family." Maya.
, G* ~" {% o+ R% T
"Go," said. "I'll Sunflower."

& f3 [9 |. r9 @& S"Are sure? I don't stranded."

"I'm fine. I car. family."

6 J' G$ T% E9 g# z" d* y"There's a after."
" c0 G8 v9 I7 Y4 v0 u. V
8 [. m- M4 [/ ]9 n"Brooke. Go." arm. "Thank here." a curb. seat. window, people. hearse. time. steps. her, talking, hugging, cars. her. her, a a a a person, away. car, in, a minute. emptying. clearing. Hartwell, be, with, a City, colder, a a committee. dress. night's left. boots. A she'd thinking. mirror. television. a she'd of. off. buzzed. bar. A Brooke.
; `. f% o: z9 {9 o1 p
I a waited. came. a row. a YouTube. it. up.

6 @7 _; M6 R+ u( ^*Which favorite?* replied.

I
7 c7 [' J/ j0 n3 B
I'm a minute. Then: side. a word. execution. perfectly. a a Inn. cute? sixteen,
( U5 y+ R" h, ~( X
I

I I pause. Then: mine. I intentional. mouth.

6 i7 a2 g" {9 |3 cI

8 B9 {3 S( d# X3 E4 {" r/ WI car, mine, I don't laughing. a Nebraska, a bed, down. car, trapped, making, parents' a cemetery. do?

I I a

You're
- L6 Y" N* Q, a) E& C
I stopped. they'd cemetery, signal. a hand, smiling. room. available. sound. out. boots, jacket, door. immediate. did, nothing. it. A men's a "Lost & Found." brown, heavy, her, warm. around. desk. lot. door, coat, out. seconds. hips, hands, ridiculous. didn't care. warm. She'd tomorrow. pool. Brooke's amenity. a fence, a middle, aren't used. walking. Angeles, a a door. here, a possible. problem. a office, anything. sitting. A a store, a store, a passed. "Afternoon," said. to.

0 [! ~  K! `; o- t8 Z"Afternoon," back. mouth. She'd life. bank. A a couldn't windows. on, something. one. a go, other, walls.

9 L! ~; @) e. H& z* Gdown. didn't to. changed. late. for. her, concrete.
5 Q0 m5 j* b5 @0 V+ K
A her, a stroller. thirty. her, a back, a urgency. stress, stroller, them. do. needed. pass. didn't her. wasn't remarkable. a a strangers, benches, "afternoon" they'd met. happy. happy. happy. a a was. they'd morning. breaking. sunny, patches, sections, she'd yesterday. Yesterday, behind. a lived. street. A a girl. hands, loosely, they'd worked. him. Quick. reason. to. boy's couldn't she'd tried, was. smiled. A one. today. saloon. marquee. Inn. hadn't here. was. Rick. Brooke. a a him. truck. A stepside. black, chrome. mornings, kinds. cars, modifications didn't about. paint. trucks. Inn. window. two. minutes. empty. A a a coffee. didn't a one. in. rang. a tub. stopped. it. name.
$ N$ m- [1 @2 Y/ S, ?3 }# L
"Brooke's friend," said. "I'm sorry, "

8 W* |9 f' Q6 W7 ^0 G' s& D"Maya."

"Maya. Right. I'm sorry. Where's Brooke?"
7 P. t: W. C: i: |0 c
3 p4 B/ e% [4 U- u- m"I'm sure, actually. funeral. a teenagers, I haven't since."
3 Q+ d/ C) a1 B. T$ D# K2 l/ g
"The Muellers' car?"

"I don't car. I it." smiled. "That's Muellers'. kids. won't a hours."
8 f  S  ?1 T) Z4 M0 m
6 c6 \+ k! [  u8 z9 @0 Y"A hours."

) M' \: A) g& \"At least." down. a a afternoon.
" f( A8 C; s. o! e- u; y+ p
0 _% Q; \# z7 s) a* l"I can't anything. We're done. I toast. hot."
8 f" ?3 D% H7 l' q4 l
"Toast great." a coat. down, plate, out. him. A door, it, Closed. started. tables. A a mop. counter. a a coffee. a second. booth.
0 I% @% s. Q. V: e  p; g" X0 k
"So," said. "How Hartwell?"

: J7 y4 {7 B  o' P"I a town."

"And?"
( t/ y% z9 C9 }/ e" a2 w
; b, U+ V  Q% ]2 v7 J"People me. Strangers. sidewalk. hello."
$ {2 \/ b! s9 h5 g9 {
, N5 n4 U4 U  L5 _! e"That's do."

"That's I'm from."
. I2 ~, D5 v7 B" l# ^4 g
/ ?/ t: M0 G! e* s4 y/ h"What you're from?"
7 i0 w* f' x% N& i' w
"They faster." smiled. yesterday. A one. Smaller. a toast. toast. bread. hungry, warm, closed, better.
" a$ I% Y! H7 \* }
$ U1 v* s  Y6 T2 I8 N"Can I something?" said.

( T' O% x  i6 U0 q4 U+ h* N"Sure."
5 [& o: H+ i) g7 p/ g$ C1 b
"Brooke years. it?" booth. "Mr. Mrs. years. county. retire, sale. buying. A it, else. a store."
, t2 E1 U2 P# R/ l8 c0 p8 a
/ S6 g7 E$ G2 R, R6 t  B"A store."
, Y6 u) [! c4 Y7 ]8 W0 W
"In Hartwell. a day." laughed. A one. it, had, she'd itself.

: g( Z/ o" y3 T2 t"So I it," said. "Mr. condition. He'd me, me, I going."
' Y0 {0 ]; T+ q/ A2 s0 E) r$ U
: u$ R0 u! M4 ~$ F* {"What scholarship?"

2 H% j7 Z1 D) H4 m"The a ago. a a college. It's a lot, a matters. Mr. I going. I did." nothing. understand.

"And same," said.

"The right. right. Mrs. it. I wasn't I better." jacket. gone. quiet. them, moving.
7 {! C/ D# c4 c# W) _
"What you?" said. "What LA?" buzzed. it. I mother, I scream. down.

"Everything okay?" said.
4 f. q7 T, c) a3 b6 D
; k: t9 L' k$ Y, l2 X/ Y/ h( @"Brooke's fine." didn't back. to. didn't.
( [9 n: U) G1 n& u
"I a company."

"Is do?" toast. "No. I a veterinarian."

"A vet?"
5 R, m8 `* W. R" u' U( L
"When I a kid. thing. I animals. I a Angeles. Dogs, cats, a neighbor's garden. Fish. A months. police." grinning. "How time?"

"The seven. side. not. us, person. hamster."
& a% C* c0 M) J$ C, G1 F. z+ Z5 Q+ w
"What hamster?"

9 O' |; ?! e2 Y1 g. v( ?( [5 e/ q"My it."
6 Z7 D5 Z  T8 k- T6 p' _
"It chair. a blanket. didn't it. down, Peanut."

+ W& ]' ~  r* W% F/ X"Peanut?"
! b1 \8 Q. ?: X
# `8 g7 f5 ^# W3 N4 B+ K"Peanut Butter. name. a hamster."

"Your her?"
( R! N$ P$ t( Z+ R7 D. R% h$ x
1 c# u; j% X' i/ [+ T" u9 n"She terrible. I did. together, I garage. I didn't days." laughed. couldn't. a ago. she'd her, a hamster, too, a broken. time.

: a5 U+ p  k3 N% p: k"I'm Butter," again.

"She a life. Short, good."
3 O. q/ B1 d: H+ t
"How job?" hands. "I up. I "It." I a people. later, I there. faded."
: @1 y/ S- [2 j/ s* ?% I% i' p' j
$ N7 h2 \/ x* ^"Do it? animals?"

8 K! u! n  A4 ~; _' J"I me." up, hadn't him. time.
' D# Z/ i2 I) m
"What you?" said. "You here?"
# [0 l: V+ ^0 E! K8 |& p7 z
"Born here. town."
9 q8 X7 G( d3 _% B
"And left?"
! b3 O4 {* k# z$ i7 c% V/ P# ?3 n
% H4 Y: O% V0 m"Never a to."

* l3 ~& l' G' _9 y"Not once? there?"
5 U% i' J7 l& l5 B
"I've places. I'm a hermit. I a back." that. She'd hadn't for. a something. she'd stubborn.
/ H# }) [# I1 S# F) Q  i
% R% I- o7 H+ O"Do farm?" asked.

"Still there. I diner. animals."

; O0 D( }' P% a7 T3 U"What animals?"

2 }/ v1 Q8 |2 }8 B) @"Chickens. eggs. purpose. A place."
& u: |- ~% b6 U/ k: j  V$ ~
  D$ W. B8 h; g"A Oscar?"
. z0 d* D2 ?4 c& f
"He's boss. it. I it. it."
4 J  P3 N& S+ F" z* `
; r/ ^& k9 H! i; {8 Z2 @* F( P"You Oscar."

4 s. ?, D  [* `$ J3 {4 W8 S9 Y( _: L"He name. I a moving, daughter's project. him. I wasn't it. don't a pig. personally." again. wasn't track, him. her. now. closed, off, window. further, seen. Warmer. Lower. gold.

"Can I something?" said.
! x4 t% H. T/ D$ a1 g1 T7 Y) z# g6 {
/ Q& F' X+ B! R) x  _/ S! G"Okay."
1 ?* u5 f7 H0 O
7 A. o9 N/ Z$ r"There's a a here. year. trees. there's a I've watching. They've fall." you'd a liked. a it.

"I've a roost," said.
( N) \" ~/ }, K) ~3 A) V& m$ [
4 f8 I. K2 M- }* X  W"Then it." on. a a door. him, walking. color, amber, rust, a life. cold, warm, didn't a for.

"There," said, line. "Watch." direction. Turkeys. them. Big, trees, a didn't there. a a commotion.
2 b. N, Z; ~; D
% }: P( {7 a2 [: w"How there?" said.
3 p) J$ z3 I' T- p' l7 p6 r$ I
& z% q' c) I1 i- k+ q"Thirty, forty. fall. They'll spring." bed. A a crackers. a trees.
0 C; G$ x! H  N7 j& g
$ |, \$ I3 c" Y"Come this," said. a bent. "Beaver lodge," said. "They've fall. mud? That's today."

"They today?"

"Every day. build, repair, add. stop."
) ^1 u8 y/ p" X% j0 ^. z
6 E) j7 }) P  J" c; ?0 q"That's exhausting."
! E* |& ]( l, ?3 i4 N7 q
  s( J4 ~" G8 g$ O6 _) Z9 G+ d"That's beavers." lodge. it. not. a stopped. stopped. side. couldn't anything.
" q. A+ k% t$ Z6 `0 ^
" a7 o, `0 d# _: H$ m! m- |"What?" said.

"Shh. there. trees. him?" a moment. it. A deer. A buck, risk. big. Maya, deer, big.

- |9 Y, Y- D+ ]  G$ i. e"That's Gerald," said.
/ V0 L' t+ r+ K) W3 ^/ G
"You a deer?"

"Gerald a years. He's smart. Mr. years, far."
' J* k9 t: f; `" b
$ M/ @0 F2 v" T" |  h) k7 c"Mr. Miller."
2 h; b) M; v, ^9 y3 ]7 W
. J! f9 g5 _1 g! p  T7 o* ]/ m"Good customer. morning. well. I'm Gerald."

+ v/ I* [2 w1 I0 ?3 X) N  t"You're customer?"
( |- y  |7 L: x( c( p  m
"Gerald it. Don't Mr. Miller. doesn't out." Rick. a a a contest. a a customer. couldn't himself. something, didn't what. hadn't couldn't name. She'd a a man, a a a Gerald.
" d0 Z/ v( W/ \1 X  z
( r) z* p. L( i7 E: @"Can I something?" road.
+ ]" c' v# Q- e/ \0 _
+ o6 q' d3 X$ R4 X7 v" B- s. f! Y0 P+ A. a"Sure."

"Would tonight? yes. there. formed. stopped.
/ y5 Y% ~1 Y2 W1 t
% I" |- \0 Z9 t& l4 D5 z# C: K3 o"I Brooke," said. "She tonight."

* u; m9 e/ J0 M5 K3 b# ]& S& m"Of course."
5 y& O+ i# o# B
"It's a no. I she's okay."
, I; i% O' u6 ~) `
' z3 r( Y$ J, b8 p, G"Take time." lot. gone. truck. she'd in. jacket. there. she'd Rick's truck. was.
1 H; F& h! ~& H% D- P+ K. i
* y- Z; z( R7 m$ i# j"Can I a Sunflower?" said.

"Yeah," said. "That good." in. clean, for. couldn't place. cologne. freshener. a him. engine. itself. lot. now, angle. amber. up. October, daylight, she'd been.
: F$ X% i$ P! j+ I; k. I8 L4 T
1 k' C6 S; F3 q' ?"It's beautiful," said. herself. her. road.
' N" B/ W- j4 w2 s
"Yeah," said. "It is." lot.

"That one," said, door. it. idled.

! C, O6 B6 f4 g: S4 D3 R% C5 B# ?1 y: l"Let says," said, number. out. immediately. door, a second, away. a a to. okay. bed. phone. bar. carefully. tonight. me? phone. disappeared. back. sent. waited. chair. them. mud. faucet. dry. 5 a opened, a tornado.
, Y& ]6 k; P& ^3 M$ }5 F
9 |" P/ B, `! k( h/ n"Rick tonight?! Inn? you?" bed. "What you? night? happened?"
9 q# X; P. Z4 L( ^1 z0 L) i/ U2 ]
"We talked. toast."

"Toast?"
* W1 u, s* `4 X  f7 ?" j8 V
"The closed. had."

"So, toast, he's dinner. toast?"
1 M  L1 Q4 _3 n; b$ g! L7 H
"We talked, Brooke."
: @. }( k4 |# v. t) E" H. L
"About what?'

; p7 G8 E# k( k3 W1 r; K"He diner. family. creek." moving. dry.

. C, `$ \+ u; D6 X/ ?1 B& P6 x, J. T5 A"He turkeys?"
& B: G4 G2 S$ y3 A( M; @
8 B6 X9 D) g" X4 I+ Y"They roosting. trees. amazing."

8 y, t3 ~) h; N' ~8 a"Turkeys. trees."
/ S. I& t# Y8 n& `/ \
"Thirty them."
, u0 e( j' g. u
' o2 q8 @/ {. _"You sleep."
7 N; I. [' G  N7 K2 |6 K: Y
5 _7 ^6 ^1 j' k; K5 @"There beavers. a Gerald." bed. shoes. relief.
: Q6 Y/ h5 S0 p6 @. q3 b( R6 _$ s
"You're smiling," said.
/ `7 d, M4 [+ B+ q$ ]
"I'm smiling."

2 u" c& N' E! m# M% s3 L$ F"You're smiling. I here, hasn't weeks. I don't it. Turkeys, a a name, toast. you're smiling, I it."

+ Z* I* X# y, Z) C"Thank you."

; x& d' h: B. C$ S; d# K"You're welcome." paused. "Now afternoon. Hartwell, I a a a I a me."

"I that."

* [6 n' a% [: i0 Z"You texts. experience. smile. commercial. car. Maya, a parents' sedan."
2 x+ P7 {" p0 T! ~
6 t% l6 K$ n  c! ^2 p! n5 ?- r% F$ x"Did it?"

"Of I it. I say, no? out. It's now. a a a cemetery."

"That's beautiful."
+ G0 _0 m( m. l( i: b% I) [0 s" _) `; s
"And boy. I didn't part. cemetery, jacket. Maya, shaking. cold. proximity. she'd before." laughing. today, she'd count. A ago, a language, couldn't it.

! Q  r& _5 |3 y+ d+ m, ~9 |"I'm fun," said.

$ M- `; I% K* p"I fun. I survived. fun. turkeys. I a a face."
2 N. B$ Y! S7 u7 V$ O' s7 k8 Z+ e
"So I tonight? There's church."

6 J# P9 i0 h/ g4 P- h"Maya. Go."
* t+ {0 y+ C- U% t( M# G# e
"You're sure? I'll me."
! C  \7 U4 j4 l
"There a event. I fine. dinner."

! e- _+ H# ~, A& Z- `% ?4 I: u"Thank you." phone. typed:

Yes. time? down. reception. had. fine. drying. else.
3 D2 `2 y' B" O5 _5 j" o+ ^& o$ k
1 z/ B9 H: z! f# d2 Q9 D7 H"I don't top," said.
) R( i( w  P3 C
"What shirt?"
- M7 j, m; t3 f! {
# h" m/ r) o: S' t2 B"It smells."
3 ]! b: g  C$ `7 u1 h
7 Z' Z# l% I; L7 _"Like what?" chair. "Like coat." men's chair. collar, a scene. arm's length.
" }' s4 U% ~, N4 l6 F! W
+ S. f( y! {3 |* |! G"Maya. this?"

! M* K8 }/ a- ?% I& }2 {2 E( `"It's a coat."
# g( |8 `& G  Y! `' b
"Whose coat?"

"Nobody's coat. desk."
; Y% [  K# H1 ?8 v4 ^+ G
/ v: c) [1 U7 k; y" _"You a coat."
3 Y5 E9 K4 @" L5 t
"I a coat. found. it."
* R$ z7 P6 o. u4 ~
"It's enormous."

"It's warm."

"It a barn."
3 v( Z! z- Y4 O3 ^8 Y4 T
. p/ P/ B, v0 R% I7 P# u" z  t"Is a went?"

1 x" z% T7 U) v& M! b/ e0 s8 c9 b"It found, Brooke. it."

"Are it?"

) i- U0 z9 C4 x5 V. ^& Z' \% u) J"I'm it. We'll tomorrow. It'll found."
1 k2 h& j  f5 F: F8 P; u
5 H" J4 \& d; E, o: u0 Z/ ?"You're a stranger's a best."
" c6 F- i4 w* R1 |  Z+ Q
4 B( I! B% D( h" J# N: N4 @"That's I'm do."

/ O! Y' E6 _8 L"This now. A Nebraska."
- m  H1 ]' K$ K$ B
% P" o! `/ g+ @+ i"Can situation?" suitcase. a top. simple, green, fitted. up.
, p" p/ b( X5 B
"Try this." her. "It small."

3 G9 p: x/ a+ @" W8 ]"I know. a try. fantastic." on. fits. chest. waist. uncomfortable, present. mirror. a a a she'd afternoon. bathroom. didn't a second. once.

" F! I" t9 B9 D0 G"That works."
+ _0 J$ j8 M$ ?; ^6 C! S) M1 B
"It's tight."

"It's perfect."
9 ^/ S. c2 K' S+ ]2 n, V5 e! I' K4 u
- @, I1 b' o  N/ x# O& j"I I'm trying."
6 ]  [# t- K. i; l" u! z
"You happened."

/ e+ H' J$ Y0 e- u; J7 DMaya's buzzed. it. passed.

A face. *I'll 7.* phone. it.
7 v6 f) o( k, U; m/ M$ x9 {
"A face. a face. That's criminal. I haven't decided."

3 j, Q$ ]! a, `, K; |1 {) w"He's seven."
, N5 {; P& I$ D9 L9 C
- i! v( H7 l/ S6 w"Then down. I'm hair."

"You're hair."
: c# ^% I" u; X) q- i+ n4 Z# q
) W* z+ d! r/ I' i* }7 h1 L  m"I hair. hair. down." down. a a women's it.

"For record," said, "I'm Rick."
  O# d, Y* [. x
5 Y& ]$ M+ L2 {! r4 i: u"I didn't stop."

"You stopped. I in, turkeys, toast, a Oscar. You're him. You're afternoon. There's a difference." didn't anything. right, hadn't out.
% {! o7 h6 t2 W) C8 e% X" Q8 I: L
: h. @; Y5 i" X/ P4 x2 u# ~"He's a man," said. "I've that. He's man." a door. it. flannel. cap. a day.

/ m9 o! G1 }6 n: m* L; D"You turkeys," said. "You a woman."

$ N0 }  h# ?& S! j4 {$ I. |"She'd them," said.
" x# c& N) C, u1 |. A5 R; K
"That's turkeys, Rick. them" smiled. easy, didn't bait.
2 D  [4 Z) n7 p) T
# b- J6 R5 Y$ Y1 G2 e- c& E0 X"You nice," Brooke.
0 t6 G0 `  R# B2 {& h( R5 T
0 x7 }+ E8 _, Q"Thank you. hair." bathroom. her. she'd afternoon. who'd toast, beavers, Gerald. hadn't before. a day. obvious. dramatic. a a he'd hours. it. didn't a it. it.

, X; ^/ b* r7 \$ x7 c6 c"Ready?" said. jacket.
  n0 {' z. T( L" w5 X. U/ F
% [0 C: G* F. V7 ~8 V  t7 |* j"Ready." frame. her, said, hear, "Attentive." back. she'd back, face, now. right. earlier. right, left, town. Inn.
# M  Z# I0 a/ S) n* P% ^) Q, G6 ~
"Where going?"

. y; I3 o$ T6 v1 s$ P"The Iron."

: N# c7 E/ [; M5 l$ H% f( G"I cooking."

"Tonight I cook. Iron. I lunch, dinner. understanding."

- d0 _4 r+ A4 i" ^6 o5 e"An understanding?"

"Nobody anything. It's works."
! q/ P3 Z# l/ c3 g( ]$ G
* P* B; ~- P, Y; H! A' H"You a competition?"
4 M1 V% X( P+ U3 D2 L
2 |* q: O! j3 U"They're competition. They're neighbors." ago. trucks, Iron. Junction. it. A letters, E flickering.

& h( y7 W) X1 t- H: U$ A- H2 V" }( @5 _"Saturday night," said. street. "First soon. now, we're a up." truck. own, wasn't there. bumper, walking.

( E. Y  A! _0 c3 n. j- u"You okay?" said.
& n, w. B# D+ j/ e7 s8 b5 J
, F+ [& e; a4 ["I'm fine." fine. wasn't a a didn't degrees. anything. wasn't awkward. didn't there. pie. darker. walls, middle, a back. A corner, a waited. them. Friday, chain. different. room. them, a long, away. A waitress's floor. didn't didn't care. a wall. in, her.

A appeared. a she's a decision.
6 D  G! }0 z" F/ F
"Hey, Rick. tonight?"
- N! E' v2 P$ w) j7 p. s
9 e+ s6 q  K  S2 v0 h0 G# C"Two tonight." menus.
2 ?; ]1 I2 @: W  }, {* t& F4 w& E- i4 [
"What I drink?"

"Beer," said. didn't specify. didn't ask.
6 o% X3 e2 v* j
"Diet Coke," said. left. room. menu. Steaks, burgers, steak, a cattleman's platter. it.
( B) H( ]" s! ~% c6 e
"What's good?" asked.
% M9 d9 N7 {5 Y. u$ W
"I ribeye. "

"Usually. time?"
8 O+ ]( t2 K% ]+ X$ T
"I've things. I don't when." smiled. salad. They'd menu, theater. a a Coke. "Ready?"

"House salad," said. waitress's face. Brief, professional, hidden. look. She'd a a it.

"Ribeye. ," said. kitchen. together. out. Rick's shoulder.

: H& g& x6 Z  I; }1 ^1 g$ E"Good you, sweetheart," said. hands, his. easy, practiced, a before. Maya.
+ y2 y/ ]/ K! O6 X* i$ D+ x
"Who's friend?"
/ X6 }6 Q- D0 W3 {& Z
% B3 J4 M% l  w% n"This Maya. She's Hendricks' LA. I earlier, I'm night. tomorrow."
! [8 ~% h% w7 u
% ]8 G4 n; m# g$ F( j5 m"Brooke Hendricks. I haven't years. she?"

"She's good. She's Lloyd's funeral."

* x' P8 e) g- _2 ~8 U! A' p6 M" z"That's right. That's right. her." smiled. "Welcome Hartwell. a night." left. Rick. a lodge. face. softened. wasn't a people. a a reason. didn't do.
8 I( }; ~, f; q$ Q% g/ X% R
"Can I something?" said.
! e9 v! `& ?* K- j: w3 @
"Sure."

: {5 V; Q+ O+ X" u) H& V"Your truck. I truck." she'd a wasn't expecting.
6 g/ Z: ?0 ]/ h* j
"It's a stepside," said. "My mornings. There'd cars. I them. I trucks."

"Your a guy?"

" N# F7 [, E2 z& W"He a guy. look. He'd a there. He'd anyone."
! H$ \0 n7 V- w4 F, q/ K5 x
"Sounds a morning."
$ H3 {% i6 O  b/ l
, Y! [& w! s* j( H"It morning. I haven't years." him. "So from?"
8 H1 I+ F4 ^, ^) I2 M6 Q. z
0 p2 m" b) H% O* ?"My grandfather's. couldn't anymore, years. I I it."

"You yourself?"

" Y3 V4 B* [: }3 X6 o7 M+ l"Every piece. years. I I went. I I time. I I couldn't right."
# G! _8 J' G8 }  W
9 J" n/ \6 m6 ~6 q"Three times?"
& E- ]' O0 G$ x2 a+ p& a5 u
% `8 l$ Q1 P: e7 d- P: p& ^- I- B! S"I right. truck." that. A grandfather's a right. a recipes.

"That's same," said. "It's do. things." didn't a moment. said, "I I do." arrived. a country. a salad. she'd on, impress, thing. wasn't Rick. tomorrow. She'd ago. good.
& S+ M9 D. d9 K7 c  L7 ]& l
"Tell LA," said. "Not job. wanted." down. "I a star. I everything."

" r" f( R6 v' Q  p* u"What happened?"
+ [1 Y& }7 J1 M: r
"Callbacks happened. That's part. don't no. maybe. say, 'Come back, you're close.' back, you're again, you're a third, fourth, time." hands.

: t6 @' v- j- L"There easier. a I it." a she'd said.
* \; D- Z4 M$ L+ [
% j$ e1 Z4 H2 q7 O"I didn't it," said.

"I know," said. him. "How know?"
# v0 t1 q" t8 N: M2 p
; M: P0 P- B( w6 G$ @) {  s"Because you're it's you. did."

' s1 y, Q. g$ z# n. l5 p- m% P9 p"But going," said.

"I I wrong. I going, alive." hadn't before. Brooke, anyone. Rick.

: s+ |( y, c8 G# U: X"Are trying?" laughed. quotes. "My "agent" hasn't a year."

$ f4 w# ~, C  @! s$ i4 ^"Do it?" asked.

8 t: O) E- a% ?% p  p$ s"I happen. I don't failing. awful." he'd she'd her.
- J# c+ j* c4 Z, J9 _6 C& _# L' u( N
A booth. older, he'd life. a Rick's other.
* K8 h  _8 [9 t2 Q
- F! Q+ t0 f4 Q6 A' T* ?"Rick." up. "Frank." a you've decades. Maya. "And lady?"
" L4 ?. N8 X0 ]" F8 @" y/ b2 p
"This Maya, Angeles. I'm night. tomorrow."

"Well, tonight." a was.
) ^4 @9 J: H5 u; d
A him. She'd time, smiling, she's a times. Rick, Maya, Rick. "You know, I once."

"Frank," said.

"Fifty ago. friends. now." Frank's arm. "Don't him. story."

/ y; d7 j' O" T5 M"Because it's a story," said. Rick's back. Margaret.

"How's hip, Margaret?" said.

7 x: @" G# h$ k$ Y5 O9 s"It's a hip. wants."

"Come Tuesday. I'll soup." a moment. said, "Stand a hug." stood. him. a a she'd life. him. Margaret's ear. something. brief. sentence, two. cheek. Maya. "It you, Maya. evening."

* p: J2 i1 w# ~2 L"Thank you, Margaret." Margaret's arm, together. Slowly. they've there's it. down. didn't anything. hadn't before. him. him.
8 ]0 _0 W0 z( x2 X8 `
* _9 m- l. N4 J' H* c! Z  C8 g"She nice," said.
5 ?1 ^/ J+ N, b4 A
"Margaret years. me. town."

  B) O0 \# t) A8 x"And soup."

) P7 y4 [7 W% z"She bisque. It's menu. I her." him. there.
! P. s( K2 n! |8 ?* }( S* X
"What you?" beer. "She I light." drink. She'd she'd met. A who'd grandfather's a kept, a a detail. now, a beer, lying. it. didn't it. Rick. she'd she'd observed. A read, weekend. up. A drummer, a guitarist, a a fiddle. it. didn't band's version, song. hadn't years. A a saloon. them. ended. country. country. up. couple. A couple. A went.

"You dance?" said. floor. didn't recognize. wasn't.
6 I' }, S; s8 p4 X4 R  C: S
& E  q* Y7 I+ a/ e, E3 T2 D"I don't that."

"It's a I'll you." hand. it. simple. her. four. hip, shoulder. boot.
. b7 ]* T: l. h- A9 C/ O
"Sorry."

"I've toes."
6 M8 e  t" E/ _: d
- `* Y/ c. H0 k7 e  n"You not."

" [8 Y0 F' F: o- P5 S"No. didn't hurt." laughed. roommate's top, day. anyone. song. didn't know. didn't matter. everything. warm, she'd anything. there. booth. floor. a a over, loud. shock. beats. beats. reacted. bedroom, stereo, America, Hartwell, Nebraska. Rick.
' K, |4 k* {  w2 g
$ m  F# T' E$ u3 P! ]; t0 w"We're dancing," said.

"I don't this."

3 a2 U9 x' _& b3 l"You don't to." booth. full. moving. pattern. structure. joy. fifteen. moving, moving, hadn't years. her. wasn't a music, didn't pretend. a little. watched. laughed. she'd go.

ended. smiling's a she'd later. clapping. them. song. night. belong. booth. it. flushed. smiling.
5 l; z! \2 `7 c9 _7 T1 o
( a2 ~1 w, M4 Q"Where from?" said.

% C8 N7 t/ v/ A, u- P2 U% r"Sunset Boulevard."
0 B. l8 @9 M! p0 E- ^
" x4 w* K/ L3 t8 f"I there."
3 Q7 m4 B6 z7 ?1 y% C- d0 c
8 N7 M3 V3 o- D/ r- `1 y0 y* E"You fine."
4 T' E% C1 E& q
6 ~. B( o0 t( g* y; _! L"I fine. I there."
- a/ f3 n3 ]+ D9 `% R1 }8 X
2 @7 M8 j% ?1 N3 w, [# G; ], }3 y6 ?"You commitment," said, him. "That counts." her. he'd motel. floor, up. watch.
* f0 H& h$ h3 R5 x4 |( c6 v
9 w' E7 t; v+ {: T: b" R2 _"," said. "I early. breakfast." him. hadn't years. alive, playing, wasn't leave. wasn't ready. biscuits. So, left. cold, before. tight, nothing. started. out, dark. working. warm.
) w* S* l# ?8 K! }& s) c
"I dam," said.
3 q  T4 Y1 L8 g- ^- G
"The lodge?"
5 y" n" `' M) Z- ]" t  _
1 `- O9 \, z: f; A6 E"I they're done."

; j  E- k4 p: W% s"They're done. That's beavers."
8 a; W! A7 ~$ W' y
"Then I photos. a renovation."

( b( K" t7 p' S* [: S. [% {% g* I+ W"I that."

& x% [" `# u2 Q5 V& B3 E0 ^9 L4 p; g"Seriously. I updates. I doing. I Mr. him."

; d; h* V. P# S; b7 Q" G"He won't."

9 A. q2 K5 I) y( O& X8 D"I anyway." a moment. said, "I'm today."
" f  h5 p" D9 i
. a6 K' J) u! t' ?) o"To diner?"
$ M  Z5 p7 N% t1 g
"To Hartwell." dark. night. trees. tomorrow. morning. wouldn't.

"You LA," said.

7 W* X! R$ j2 F1 y( U"LA."
* X' P4 z$ A- q1 q% U- x
8 g9 N" I" o' J4 r7 T: C4 R" Z"I'll dancing. dancing. "

% f8 D) I. m  m; J4 F"I I fine."

+ g2 h/ N9 W1 L+ s. e% P"You commitment. That's thing."

"I don't me."

& `6 A# e3 O) R1 u' B! o"You'd survive. I'd you."

"From what?"
  V! e% G1 H! P) z7 j/ v& S  D
"From everything. traffic. people. dancing." him. sign. a 1962. him. long. deep. stolen, who'd to. it. back. her.
! ]: B/ x* m: Q( s& G; B: B& V
"Goodnight, Rick," said. out. her, didn't care. door, card, back. mouth.

) t* e* w: J: I: H# o3 uBrooke's empty. church. heater. bed. it. lips. face. hadn't hadn't knew, over.

3 G+ m8 ?$ \4 a) A* ZShe'd a man. A she'd with, Oscar. a a hip. ceiling. Italy. a smooth, a Nebraska. smiling. a door. bed. ceiling. smiling. door. hand.

; N' B* b1 l' ?, ~" Q"You knocked," said.
) V2 z  N  `' ]) l* S
) Y+ ?! a+ x- s/ r( X"I knocked."
. h1 c! h  ]- f. c+ o
"You a key."

"I cautious."
" Q1 S" x) ^; a
"I've minutes." bed. Maya. carefully, information. "You same."

"I same."

, O5 X. G3 M2 B7 F8 t"You're smiling."
8 ]/ `5 c0 P- H6 n
" [8 u+ I8 Q. C( g$ i5 M% M* f"I smile."
5 [6 a9 C3 z1 o
' ?8 G7 {% Q3 J( r"You haven't weeks, can't stop. happened?"
- Y2 L8 A) d- w. ?% |
8 M- d6 x# o9 q4 A"We dinner. ribeye. I salad."

"You a a steakhouse."

3 w0 K% |9 A  ~+ v"I did."

"Of did." bed. "Tell everything."

& T: B3 I' a8 N" K3 V- ~"There's tell. ate. played. "
8 V- V5 ]- d# F& p4 d
"The what?"
4 e1 Y/ e8 I. ]! G7 g8 }+ N8 ]8 P
' ~2 I8 y4 K+ `& q1 o"It's a dance. steps. counted."
: o( z! e: L5 v/ a/ W, ?
2 E# j. n) I. J"Rick a dance."
; I6 E2 J, V+ M! Y
"He's a dancer."

/ v& |9 R7 e1 n$ i* ?0 D+ y"I that."

"But he's a teacher. Attentive," said, her." smiled, her.

"Did himself?"
' T  k. E1 j$ C( w/ Q* h8 g
. _6 j4 L3 }' G' Y; X# V"He a gentleman."

"Too perfect?"

6 o! k; F! L" X7 S"He biscuits." her. "He biscuits."

"Sunday breakfast. seriously."
4 z( E# y/ _# G/ r8 N
"He a a biscuits."
+ B& h9 J8 V; Q- x; q0 Q- b
"That's did."
. q9 |' U7 h: c3 S7 {
"That I've saddest."
4 N8 z" M! ~' J6 j. V. N' u- i8 o
, |: Q. O  ^6 B# O3 v"It's thing." again. look. "You a time."

5 M; I  G2 k) {6 l' F"I a time."

, \: F9 c% `& V4 X"Are okay?"
5 T, ^  G  J+ Y
"I'm okay, Brooke." second. push. didn't push.
0 U" e! s# \# h9 H+ t; z
* N+ X+ \  ^1 m: x0 ?! t; G9 ?"Well, basement. Hartwell, I a a a illegal."

) I6 T3 \' r& b0 a- n"Was good?"
- t' H. O: K4 }, ^, U) m$ X
"The green, Maya. it. I didn't were, I don't know."
- B# ~3 b8 {$ L5 o1 F$ ~
) ?6 Q8 f3 A+ E/ S' {"Did you?"

"Everyone me. A I've I talent. talent. a seconds."

/ F, d6 A8 t4 _+ S& s! ^% S* F& n. }7 n"You that."

"Thank you."

"You gum."

5 m' G2 A& d' G: k2 U# M"I'm I you." laughed. now. day. nose. "What smell?"
2 _7 G$ i% F* O7 q8 p
"What smell?"
* Z+ g8 w% W( a! P. H9 x6 P
8 b. Y& ^$ I" b+ w, ^"That." chair. "It's room."

"It's bad."

3 E! x: [: H. o  K& U) u% j7 N  x& p"Maya, after."

/ w. r5 H8 ^' p  k  E" f"I day, I'm fine."

"You've You've it. doesn't suffer."

- T2 ]6 Y2 Y" d" K5 K8 B"It's a coat."

"It's a crime. I door?"

"It's not."

0 t+ ]) U7 j  _* A5 \% V+ n"I a a a a bugs. bathroom." hand. "Fine." she'd earlier, arm's length, fingers. bathroom, floor, door. a wasn't escape.
& x1 C4 J8 K- W; u+ Q% W
- g. T/ k+ S( Y* N"Thank you," said.

"You're dramatic."

"And a barn. Goodnight."
4 C- @4 c9 d4 M  p* J, E
% E* R/ l: F; ?( ^  N! E8 j! R"Goodnight, Brooke." light. dark. coat. didn't it. a hadn't a hadn't like. eyes. lips. Quick, stolen, hers. 6 clear. didn't Hartwell. gone. a was. haze, line. other. jeans. head. She'd it. in. a possible.
$ }5 @. _- j- ?& o- S# p; d3 P
"They ten. We'll latest. flight's two. It's tight, works."
0 Q6 T5 Y6 V( f( j! S& Q& R8 j
" _5 V" Q- x" |$ a% A3 {$ f) i"It works," said. dresses. didn't Brooke.
2 j$ N- x4 R) t/ D* ^/ j" ]  Y
& O0 q; P- ~  z* k. w% a6 C: y% HBrooke's rang. up.
2 L/ ^5 o/ u- K) b( W& Y; a
# x9 x2 Z. W% K- N"Hey, Mom." Brooke's change. gradually. a eyes.
8 z6 [% c! H& `8 d
"What it's pushed?" folding.

"To when?" bed. "Monday. Why?" couldn't words. were, Brooke's tighten.
- E  x  Q3 g  d2 M8 t- w2 N
"The sheriff? this. a game?" eyes. "Mom. Lloyd's night, there's can't a Sunday?" something.

& h- B( c" r; Y" G  B- [/ u"And books?"
, F# Q" w9 M8 Q6 o
"Nobody country?"

, L( n- x  T# @' qBrooke's reasonable. Brooke's not.

& K# g, ~6 M0 S2 i2 V"Monday. morning." ceiling. "Fine. We'll flight. you, Mom. I you. I'm now." up. Maya.
7 E: w. w  F1 y! b2 a3 _
"A game, Maya. A game! sheriff, a a county. lawyer, Hartwell, enforceable."
6 c: v" S# z" I
"That'"

8 N9 D, |2 u; q1 M& o  Y3 X* }"Don't it's charming," Brooke.
# ~) q. Z+ c) V6 C: I
1 w$ F1 q& e- u" g2 R/ `0 ?"I wasn't it's charming."

"You it."

"I that's Hartwell." bed. "I this. I left, I a life, I a funeral, I can't a a night." still. configuration. Frustrated. Inconvenienced. Stuck. emotions. a home. things.
2 @, `" j8 }( Q; G3 p7 u) s1 y$ S
"I'll airline," said.
% B& Y- _& O: f5 {- U, w8 E0 w
# a. S3 |, h6 c1 F"I'll I'm over. I haven't I here. She'll me. She'll she's bathroom." Maya. "Do come? She'd you."
5 a% j+ o# p+ Y, U& C1 }* u
& B( [1 g0 |! b3 j. c: N- _1 v"I I'm here. on." her. a look.
) }5 V" H0 H0 e
"The Rams?"

9 K) w9 n5 C9 R& l"Yes."
" w+ p* i3 x& A2 p
"You're football."
. j# l; a8 W) `6 n! Y/ {
) f3 P8 @* o( A"I football."

"I years. I football."
( a% x3 k, }5 Y9 e2 j% _
- g+ A9 u; `2 X# P; \6 J- u7 g% G"I alone. That's you've it." her. knew. didn't knew, something. she'd Dan, floor, couldn't wearing.
  f  f) n, F8 \% R( i7 S  H
# t9 y; e5 ?# F+ V( o0 v"Okay," said. "The Rams. Alone. a Hartwell."
* b7 G, r( Y& z' S
"Enjoy mother's bathroom." keys. door.

  B3 M) k6 x3 x"Do anything?"

5 O* ?& L( F# I# u9 M) b"I'm fine." closed. away. couldn't anymore. boots, jacket, door. different. Cool. Clean. doesn't Angeles. fine. she'd landed, wasn't freezing. minutes. sign. Iron, closed. sitting, bank, office. a morning. A trucks. church. away. A lot. up. smiled. close. a this. in. rang.
6 I6 o! A2 L+ q& W
A a coffee. A check. over. counter. rang. her. didn't hide. Surprise. else.
8 a, D! Y& Y4 o- L
& ]" p% O1 o/ ~0 B9 i8 m( M"I today," said.

"So I. nights." her.

+ Y9 B5 ]5 K9 ?"The there's can't a Sunday." Monday." didn't surprised. "That right."
. H' l& Y) h; I+ `
"You're shocked."

"I've life. me." counter. "So, I'm day. I you'd Oscar." her. shirt. jeans. boots. A a pig.
& s5 e; x9 J% l' {7 _4 e- t
' t+ e& H- I5 y4 Y"We minutes," said. again. "I know. I'm slot."

"Can I help?" said. she'd didn't expect. a towel.
& C- c4 u+ {: X! f+ j6 _. B, G
0 K2 L" m1 P2 e- M1 a. f"Saltshakers filling. There's a back." work. diner, caps, shakers, each, one.
0 M+ P* ?% I+ G( I3 V5 L3 S7 A. x
$ _3 }2 Y' _5 Y  ?3 n+ `5 `A diner, helpful. quiet. her. Maya.
" }5 i% b: z! H& Y
"I've saltshakers," said. Maya, booths, she'd Iron. didn't left. Closed. routine. up. out. wiped. saltshakers. She'd both. pepper. it.

8 }) d9 l  ?0 X7 i& z+ j"You've before," said, counter.
1 w+ V6 I% s: S$ T" W+ F( n9 P
"I college. months."

"What happened?"
! q) @1 W8 _# ^% r  d
6 e, _, S6 Y& n6 F, r"I quit. That's worked. a job, a opportunity, didn't happen, too."
1 @6 c. m- Q3 z4 S
3 ^6 ^  {5 a! j"How jobs?"
/ Z- J* c" j  c2 R$ C
"I counting." table. him. gone. locked. a a afternoon.
% Y9 }; w! |0 w6 s& H; e
/ w" J* ]7 [# k9 L% W"So," said. "Oscar?" them. truck. seatbelt. it. windshield. lot. everything. they'd Friday. them. there, intentional, way.

5 @( v$ \, O9 m4 e$ t! {% {! z"I something," said.
% t& ^" \, l4 x, o7 q- R
"Okay."

& y8 H! e& C; E, a0 d. @"I'm pig." her. "Most don't loud."
1 M  w8 M0 M# [+ V8 F: e9 C
"I'm loud. I've yesterday. A a farm. I him."

"He's you. He's a pig."
9 M. @8 Z) Q, \$ @
"He's a pig. he's boss."
7 B# m9 R* h/ r" g9 b" r
"He he's boss."

"That's thing." a minutes. away, up. Fences. Fields. A standing.
7 l1 n7 [+ t  x' c6 i3 \$ A/ ~
"I a once," said. her.
4 ^6 c* ?5 s: X( `
"I extra. I a a hours."
! ^$ @# z" J9 U9 o
5 f5 C  z& V# l2 B" c* {: i6 F( H"Twelve hours?"
" `( u5 n  a' n# q4 i
1 B* v- n" f- o"For dollars. I credits." movie.

( j0 E; Z5 m& M! L1 k6 T/ z"Was a movie?"

"I idea. I've it."
1 l8 ]! u& z- V; l7 S
"Why not?"
* M$ E) k( `0 s4 d
9 T) {- T' e  _; q% g5 v: {"I wasn't premiere." paused. "Obviously. I didn't a background."
" w, v5 h" S* H  X8 n2 n& f
"Who it?" names.

"Did them?"
* D" K8 V/ N5 I3 V/ C7 h1 B
* r5 p6 D( \+ f+ S: B"I a restaurant. a set. I I've with."
& W2 u3 I& i  i3 N  p8 ^- H( R
"I've it. Brooke." her.
) I$ D! i7 b+ C7 W9 l. H2 \# V
- v7 |4 m% J4 j$ v* A"Brooke a about. I a I about. We've years, reason." a second. "I I've service. I haven't it." seat. "You a service?" road. "I a flushes." it. it.

$ _/ ]# s* C4 T3 G3 y# v  a"I didn't "

( b% Q$ \  J* q0 ["You candlelight."
# M, s% m" G$ A2 h) }; N6 q
* a% F  o# X, T4 d9 ?"That's I thought."

"It's a thought."
9 n: Y" Q1 r  ~8 o
9 r2 k( F6 U5 {1 \2 Z"I'm sorry," said.

' x7 w+ B: }4 d2 ]+ c"Don't sorry. I it. assumptions."
1 o. R4 ^; ?- c
"I won't again."
2 i; |8 Z5 S! {9 p6 V' P) K5 U: a
"You will. that's okay."

"You sometime. I'm together," said.

8 P) V! ~0 S8 ~- X"Will tonight? I'll supper."

  P( n" |! A$ M# y9 H"I don't I it."

"Why not?"
" ^, R9 t2 K. u
! P1 n) A7 t) E" B8 D/ `* K6 c, K"What I'm terrible?"

"I eat. weren't terrible." window. a a toast, turkeys, a Gerald, a in. a film.

! [: t4 L* X$ {" {3 E% h"Okay," said. gravel. A it, a number. in.
8 K0 f0 ]/ P- Y* H
2 k' R% x% _+ ?' G" I( utrees. house. A front. step. house, it. Barking. Loud, barking. here, I know.

"You a dog," said. "You a dog."
1 e& j. {5 K1 o. \
"There a animals. I can't them."

2 s8 ~( J: r: [4 I0 Q/ RA speed. it. up. everywhere. look. Slowly, house, a Oscar. out. him, circled, Maya's door, air, spun, Rick.
* U# ]8 ]8 v- U( F
"That's Bud," said.
6 k0 k8 g5 m# O5 Y  w$ j
- g' W# A2 W; S( N"His Bud?"

: E  d  G3 N7 f' a9 I8 I"I else, I a puppy, stuck." low, her. ears, he'd life.

"Don't you," said, them. "He's a dog. everything. around, isn't place. I've a inch." Bud, butter.

5 \4 M/ W/ O6 b; K; C8 V% `+ k"He's I don't what's land," said. him.
3 f* R4 u' V5 C% O- n
0 h# b9 g$ e& [7 v"Some oil, gas, ground. wouldn't truck. I window. minutes, left."
( N# j- M# R$ p! d$ O8 `! G
"You didn't off?"
$ B1 I# @' X6 w* w- o/ T! p/ K
"I Bud."

"You aren't money?" a second. "They a back. rights. Omaha."
7 w2 x1 j0 ^+ o1 |
9 w7 ~- o% b& ?1 B3 x$ c"I land. was." paused. "And I don't I money. I'd know."

"Come on," said. "There's meet." yard. expected. property. him. back. down. her. him. solid, a smell.
' y. m+ `* H" I; \6 k" r# z# R( H# ?) x
' a4 u$ v+ F% V5 J"Well, there, Oscar," said, a hadn't didn't there. ridiculous. "Aren't farm?" grunted. smiled. "I've you." Rick. "Rick you're here. true?" again. Louder. a close. scrambled. been. didn't stop. backward. a charge. couldn't breathe. coming. hurt. a pig, couldn't stupidly, funny. her. didn't couldn't a goat. hand. it, up. them. wet. laughing.
9 p9 i- ?2 _2 F* Z4 B: \
"He's perfect," said.
  s6 Y) p5 Q" k0 V, D
"He's a pig."

: _) j9 A5 v1 N; F9 W' |"He's perfect." house. a bird. Oscar, do. door. 7 a time, had. inside, wasn't found. new. Inside, hardwood, finished. A kitchen, side. room, doors, frames, them. separate.
- I5 V, f2 P# k+ m& \! s
+ Z3 T; K- H- q- v; Y" X/ I"You this, didn't you?" said.
: y- G& A2 B6 U6 G0 I
/ ]. i1 d9 F1 s"Most it. longest. I twice."

"Twice?"
* }% A- B6 C7 s1 A! d7 M9 m
' W; t1 w' \5 M"I didn't time." passed. A a couch, a chair, a television, them. A dining. kitchen. Small, clean, a yard, a a house. A chairs. hallway, wall, clock. dark, alive.
" H" W* Q8 a: P7 i5 W* V
"That in. It's else." a moment. Tick. Tick. Tick. a generations. She'd a continuity. else's hers, else's after. someone. had. ankle. down. A cat. white, , a territory.

& y( A! u8 l+ E"That's Felicia," said. her. Maya's purred. floor, she'd invited.
  n$ j3 u) @$ ?$ w% A1 g% X: A
- D, U* a9 f/ }4 ~; b4 `- u"She doesn't that," said. watching.
" c; g( ^3 P. v- R
5 g' d+ B% ?! C5 c. m2 X2 h' x"Do what?"

6 w' k+ r) b& W; Q* w" D"Any it. legs. lap. purring. me. t" stopped. "She doesn't people."

0 l9 R+ p, _! g4 M2 n# E. f) }" F9 M"She warm."

) s2 u7 B+ n0 Q"She didn't here."

"Someone cat?"

"She moved. wasn't plan."
* A2 K1 k+ L. }. r
"Who doesn't cat?" didn't that.
2 ~) Y. R3 [$ a! G' ]: C- V
" t3 d9 ~( @! F" C3 L  T"Why her?" asked. "You doesn't you."

5 @5 L8 f, N5 |: b"She me. That's different."

( C% e5 y4 I( M"That's answer."

"She here. didn't go. I wasn't a didn't lap." Felicia, a for.

"So a wouldn't day."
% r1 {, j7 z* _! n) D, \2 x% i
3 h% C' i7 W' D5 {"She day. doesn't this."
" T/ O6 {) N& u- ?' K# C
4 t1 F$ i2 ?7 b- E0 E6 i9 O"I taste," said. Rick, up. off.
" D: ], [/ f) e9 y- E
"Do farm?" asked. barnyard. house. them. a chaperone. walked, back. diner. A season. spring. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, corn. a creek. narrow, a deep, moving. easily, hand. help. offered, it. grass. him. rigid. lunged.

- K) j( y  @! F" B# OA grass. air. Rick's it. open. field, went. chase.

"Pheasants," said. arm. go, immediately. back, himself. couldn't him. hour. property. cattle. failed. winter. them. you've life, it, boring, a world. back, everyone. barn, followed. wall, inside. waiting. He'd it.
3 R  u" E; I. a9 s0 G& u" d
0 ~. n2 ~$ V: J"Oscar first," said. "Always."

' ~0 D0 x3 O! ?8 i"What he's first?"

  _0 `5 M, o0 g9 \8 E( `. ^4 z"I once. wouldn't move. I couldn't else. a minutes."

+ _& l, ]8 Y7 t2 N+ N"You a a pig."
2 G6 C; M. z& I$ ]* Z
3 D& U5 T. k- L- y0 g"I pig. I trying."

"Can I help?" said.

7 e3 D2 [5 U, g$ G: T2 C- r  P"Sure, goats. I'll chickens." gathered. a be. trough, weeks, round.
! p$ O8 F& G6 @9 e; h1 x( w
"Hey," them, voice. voice. ago. "Hey there, sweetie. you." her. time. better. a jacket. down. a a jacket.
1 q% _4 F) L; b& U8 y) p
9 M0 i, X! e6 K; C( Y  o9 t! x- N"Hey, no. That's mine." harder. back. leaned.

* t$ L2 H4 b  n"Rick!" barn. hadn't help. smiling.
. ^" u2 k* V' i6 y5 ]* M: ^
"Rick, jacket."

+ I$ |: ]4 R" _9 s2 l7 v"She that."
, ?! E$ d+ ^9 k% z# |
( v6 R7 z' D+ ^# S" V  v"She's *eating* it."
0 N) C: i9 ?3 T* D0 h4 D
, I# O1 q. B% \) a3 C8 G5 t) X"She's it. She'll go."

) l* Y) Q- b' x) X, N, f* o8 c"When?"

"When she's done." goat. Maya. go.

& m: o1 K% N. ^5 B& G" W7 e"This jacket," goat. "I it's useless. it's mine, I stop." go. a step. chewed. it.
- _8 ~& @9 ?: Y
"She you," said.

"She clothes."

* x6 V2 I3 i) C0 r$ c; g, n* R; b"That's affection." porch. chairs, side, yard. a time. talked. lower, again. shadows. a sun. paws. fence, things. it. yard, animals, fence. her. didn't him. wasn't empty. day. walk, creek, pheasants, a pig. discussed. them. once. yard. wasn't. yard, wasn't it. she'd lodge. side. wouldn't notice. noticed. didn't anything. it. once. line, gone, turned. tighter, did.
: r7 Z# J% q; u( D
7 W* P' d% N4 }2 ]% N, a  W3 d"Getting cold," said.
/ r8 r  \) n' d
, i- |4 K& b$ _+ c"It's cold. I've it."
9 p1 j' _5 ~% ~) W
"You inside?"
# L/ H# p" Q/ y7 f3 O5 V
"I ask." door. couch, boots, her. again. her. room. She'd ago, she'd years. bookshelf. She'd through, hadn't look. did. full. full, LA, opened. a a everything.
6 a* ^7 b1 _$ D) s
"Have those?" said.

"Most them. I've twice."
) N) h3 r* O. s% S- F9 r
7 a: h! _% j  }! D/ J, y, g9 r"What like?" time. "History, mostly. I are."

4 q* y8 A4 K1 f% z6 M"What else?"
* Q2 e8 D4 O7 w" u6 K
"Steinbeck. that. I've *East Eden* times." him. She'd *East Eden*. She'd a wasn't it.

+ \8 ?& P2 j' _; {" n4 p"I book," said.
% Z  W3 {+ i2 c/ r, j  ?
0 }8 z0 k0 m7 x"You've it?"
& a/ i5 T1 Z- C
) c0 P/ F* X7 s5 ~) J"Twice. I times, I wouldn't up."

"It up."
. e3 H& M% I) u; Z
"You're sure?"
) k8 o; V5 ~4 z, F! A- j8 B
8 @  J! K! v; A  }( ~"Third one." again. "What's one?" a didn't others. Thinner, cover, hardcovers. pointing. face.

"That's nothing."

"It's something. It's shelf."

; K3 V+ K5 C* }7 u"It's a novel. A diner. I don't shelf."
3 C1 h8 {2 O: q' U
"You a novel."

"I didn't I it."
& x: v1 R. u) n: u1 {4 h1 ?8 q
$ I4 g+ Z- Z+ a"It's you've times. didn't there." ceiling. "It wasn't bad." smiled. suit, soup, scholarship. A a a him.

"What you?" said. "What you're working?"
( q+ y' B8 U4 T+ h5 Y
"I don't know. anything."
- X' V, ^4 V0 j
"Do do?" version. everyone. *It's **a great** company, I'm a lot, it's **a foot** door.*

/ ~0 R) [1 f$ g$ h7 e. B* h: _  E) x3 G"I a shop," said. "He nice. good." her.

: \& b& x- c9 f: q- n, `& r. k"That's I asked," said.
5 Q* ~7 ?  i6 _
' K' E7 W0 o1 h) R"I know." waited. didn't push. didn't rephrase. he'd it. hallway. lap.

"No," said. "I don't it. I phones. I things. I don't name. farm." it, room, everything.

"An minutes," said. "Each way. traffic, hours. I a a I don't be."

+ J  Z" k& I' f* m: y! r; p"That's a hours."

* X  h" X" Q1 s7 x1 k  n"It's a hours." thing. she'd a a worked, a sun, today.

, m6 f+ z/ R1 g( C0 r$ X"I'm supper," said. chair. "It'll a while. I right."
* J) e1 h2 r. R
- R& T' b- s, [5 U4 P8 b"Can I you?"
0 C, d) G( x$ ]( r9 k0 d
' a/ B. e- A1 Y# w. y% D"Of course." Felicia, a behind. table. a window. a case. a CD. a now. a counter. a time. play. Sinatra's kitchen. song. didn't it, it. She'd life, somewhere, a a chose.
) ~0 ]4 y; k* @( f+ p3 ]
9 S; t+ |: l4 q- Y! c+ T! \"Frank Sinatra," said.
# f1 H& |. a  c: W7 N
8 j5 q5 s: `$ t  |3 ]  Z  a  ~* I# R"He mom's favorite. I've known. I I cook." simply. A a mother's cooked. refrigerator.

: X7 v7 M5 Y& l"Can I help?" a minute.

' R( c! L' k% P: ^* @9 L% I"Can salad?" her. it, up, counter. twisted, clean. leaves. her.
9 U4 B/ A7 r' c$ k7 o+ e) f- h
" }* \$ s' _9 C( \. x' D& ?9 R"What?" said.

3 I% u) b' \$ ], ]/ G* r"How that?"
  M" Q6 ^- R& {6 B  f/ |. p
" w- V/ u- r7 _" o4 ^"Do what?"
7 s. s9 B+ n" S- _3 H6 j0 o
" "

"That's a lettuce."

"I've a life." lettuce, her, lettuce, she'd a a vegetable.

+ ~# b  a" d+ R+ j4 P"What don't I know?" said. leaves. moon, them.
4 \. R1 z; g+ v8 z$ y+ Q
He'd a wine. he'd a while. didn't from. him. himself. didn't spill. cat, down, a a inch.
7 U  H% w9 W6 F2 q: b( ?6 b: Z
"Close," said.
7 B2 k- W5 z4 f- a% z7 y+ E) t6 V
1 e1 Y7 k3 E& Y* i% A"She that. it."

"She I'm a woman."
0 V; n' Y! `# o9 e$ |! A
0 H: W, {9 V! U1 N0 i- W9 nher. "There others. didn't them." a sip. didn't it. didn't he'd said. didn't women. her. table. farm. didn't was. ate. starving. hadn't day, good, didn't it. seconds. you're hungry, good, wasn't for. eat. watching. eating.
  q% S3 T, I. U) S( p( l
( m* P1 I3 C$ d- f! t5 O& j$ r) i"This vegan, way," said. "I times, I " down. "I'm vegan."
% v2 u# n) }7 t# I+ a3 G- F
"You're not."
; S. Z+ y4 f7 ~: A9 ?6 c
"I'm either. incredible, I meal."
  l% M, i) c! \+ L
"Then salads?" plate. "The time, diner, I didn't food."
3 Z* H4 R5 h8 w+ ^  M
2 O, {7 ]$ }: z; @"You didn't food."

+ W% @5 K' G* Q- s% A6 b"I didn't food. I a Nebraska, a safe."
) B8 h- ~1 I( O% }0 w
8 H; c& r6 @, Y: v) H' J"And night?" up. "Last a thing. I dates. I don't why. I do." she'd a date. didn't need.

"This good, Rick. I it. menu."

"The menu."

6 z" ^( D1 t8 v) o3 @3 F"Make a special. don't anything. it." she'd hadn't considered. A who'd restaurant, annoyed, it. together. washed. dried. way, too. couch. service. screen. movie.
+ M" \/ n% G( b9 {5 L# ?
"Ready?" said.
3 n: u2 e) j* o0 q
5 z1 V1 q# ~8 F"No." anyway. Maya's lap. couch. started. fine. a movie. it, don't. couch. touching. there. contact. purring. playing. hallway. mark. her. walk, pheasants, a food. warm, warm, warm, point, shoulder, didn't it." up. didn't move. a shoulder. breathing. head. lap, sleeping. minutes, her. back. A dress. a man, pasta. weren't her, you'd her. her. it. shoulder. didn't wasn't out. , something. play. movie. wasn't bad. wasn't great. roll. past. one. end, reads, her. him. She'd time. credits. screen. a a restaurant. a a lap. television. quiet. ticked. carefully, her. a a pillow. stirred. halfway. a didn't was.
$ l; z* ^! ^; ^: n; t2 K% S& o# R
"What doing?" said.
. K( W, I2 g# e* M
"Making comfortable. I'm bed." him. couch, her, pillow, blanket. hers. eyes, bent, of, did. him. quick. stolen. she'd coming. doing. a a he's didn't waiting. face. neck. up. knees. feet. her. hallway. door. it. followed. closed. two, Maya's opened. didn't was. wrong. wrong. him. back. cool. smiled, eyes, body. quickly. 8 morning, lot. hadn't farm. her.
6 H+ c4 g; ?2 C& M+ \2 n
* E% _" {7 B& a4 j. Y0 D% I, P9 w' h"What don't me?"
9 ?' t, b+ q) o8 b, `( U
"They're I do." her. out. behind, sweatshirt. door, rang. in. him. stopped.

"Good morning, everyone. I family. fiancé, Maya. She's help. moved. A kitchen. A a Rick, Maya, Rick. yesterday. She'd humming. first. permission. came. one. they've it's to. happen. town, Maya's bed. it. a settle. a life. her, Monopoly. a couch. nightstand. up. bar. A Maya, morning. will. suitcase? twice. Monopoly. early. in, a her, Omaha. a now. dressed. suitcase. Maya's suitcase. lawyer's office. a coffee's temperature. minutes. a seat. Inn. a trucks. door. rang. her. counter. a figure. back, makeup. a a man's counter. a Hartwell, Nebraska, she'd life. up. Brooke. didn't recognize. Rick's kitchen. out. corner, window. him. in, Maya. Brooke. didn't it. didn't weekend, timeline, coming. it.
2 v" H; S! g+ j) W. l2 l
"Rick him! I yes. I'm staying!" hand. a ring. Simple. new.

4 J# n" h+ L2 U/ p& z"It mother's," said. "It perfectly." applause. ring. Maya. Rick, booth, a rest. mouth. out. it. again.
; Z9 B( m* l# l$ o! T& |4 b! s
"You've days," said.

"I know."

& ~! n3 n) u: }% k5 Z"Three days, Maya."

"I know." her. back. didn't flinch. didn't explain. a a seen. up. up. her. changing, don't words, works. face. A ago, a smile, opposite. hug. mascara. down. a moment. Rick. "I days, reason, out." forward.

"This doesn't out. way, I I killed. I'm Angeles. I people." eye, it. face, red. a ten. "Listen, I conquests. relationships. lives, mine. worked." said, "We dated. a conquest?"

& F! l' m- E  C! ^"No," Brooke.
! v; p3 \; ^- l
* M2 ^* Y0 G6 Y! K1 i6 O0 T8 h"You LA, I didn't. didn't fit." a second. Maya's table.

"With Maya, a place. I I couldn't again. I now, I I chance." eyes. watched. happy.
0 c. S+ N* e/ v8 n& j6 ?$ c
4 y2 b7 _" F) YA this.

; T1 x' d" n. H3 `+ Z9 @"So, Said.
+ o) R" A$ s/ ~0 |/ t2 U, T
"How go? a hills"
6 S; I: T' N& E$ I$ ^3 ^" D, v
"Oh, top!"
, h1 G8 J& g- b0 S% k
* @  g; u% r9 U% r! t( V"There a room. I knew, I didn't. land. a account. a house."
+ D& z$ `6 M- O' u9 |" `
"The me."

"To Brooke, I collection. I a a child, I memories." table. them, off, Rick.

3 t1 h# k& I4 x! v( N  L# _"This," said. "This I got." it. butterflies. labeled. dead.

# U0 F) f+ L9 e  p4 R, g' D"I Hartwell, Nebraska. I a a I twice. I a a a a a long. I a a me. I a a a barn. a account. I a I a I four." together. saltshaker.

"Don't," said.
7 q4 f, ?: c: P# x2 B- j. A' b) Z
"I'm not," said.

"You're to."
2 T! }8 _9 i  I! _; `6 r8 Y
"I'm anything."
. r' Q) u: A$ i6 T% j7 K9 O# T4 N( k
"Rick, she's butterflies," Brooke.
4 c! H# n0 Y4 T
"These butterflies, Brooke," said, a steady. "Uncle a this."
/ r" w7 h% a& z# }
* r/ a& G5 G! m"He glass."
1 z1 S7 V4 j# x9 Q
"With labels. them. That's dedication."

: D3 {% Y' ~% J9 q5 y# h9 O- b"I you." broke. couldn't it. from, hands. watched, her.
3 P9 `2 u' b: s' [5 n
1 u/ ]+ h/ t  l' S+ R"Maya, can't stay. a least. a coverage. you. I there's Hanks. he'll office." paused. "You I can't alone." was. it.

! W" g" C- P8 w0 s5 |4 ["We it. I up. months. about."

"You've hours, you're rent."

7 g0 t; i6 q. v) K% a" f6 e$ k) Y% ^"We weren't hanging, Brooke."
' j4 j6 q0 ^- @
; ^/ r$ J! a) {: H1 m' g* p"And job?"
4 s. |+ N  N7 N5 C9 }# g" t% d1 W
& D/ x3 C. Q! b"They'll it." didn't that. couldn't.
. \, j  {+ J8 W4 c) `& T
4 u9 Z, u9 G% Q; {"I here," said. "Yesterday mine.

% W& L5 c: M: w9 K  E  E" s"Pointing butterflies, "I can't plane," said,

"What?"
; i8 W, Y% a9 y# J! K) C
; W) P- N; N1 Z& R( A" ~% E, y: _"I can't a security. thing. They'll it' I don't they'll is. I it's I'm a insects."

: S8 e6 s9 v- i7 j- c0 g, B"So them?"

+ e; l4 L+ W( D, J; {! o2 C"I'm you."

"No."
2 o( `6 P; D2 K* r
"Consider a gift."

/ t- f( W" {' l! J"Brooke."

. _9 J) J, z8 T"You're friend. You're roommate. I can't alone. butterflies." Rick. Maya. all, glass, useless, place.

1 O6 O6 V  M3 V* }! h"Fine," said. "We'll them."
1 y; G" o; ]$ r: X' i
' i" @: h, P2 k0 T9 ~"Thank you."

( ?( K4 o/ l* u/ q"We'll them." box. a commercial. A a bikini, a a her, a remember. up. wall. A d years. box. nail. perfectly, there. back. Brooke's been. Preserved, mounted, a fragile. wall. 's years.

& C1 Q3 r, C2 @$ F3 ]# k% N- ^"Those there," said.
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"They do," said. didn't anything. butterflies, been, a a she'd behind, a she'd a she'd to.
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2 F- W% C5 K/ k0 l8 S% g7 X# ^"They perfect," said. phone.
  B# x1 @; X8 M# L/ u. s7 y& {
1 s% f1 ^! \" y# a$ U"I I plane."

"I suitcase." rental, ground. go. Brooke's arms. "I wedding. I happens." her. "You're Nebraska."

* l3 z( x4 P% ^"I'm honor." didn't anything. on.

"You I clothes."
! }; d6 A$ Q: b8 F! ]+ k; M9 [
# v& p' m5 `( V8 ^! I) O4 c) I- _"I it." again"I school,"
/ [1 \) o+ Y* f& I# H
Maya's red. Rick's truck, a back. lot. over. Hartwell, Nebraska, cried. booth. she'd ring. quiet, a a her. face. mirror. drove. a pot, full.