Hartwell

神秘的清泉

1 didn't "Go away.", ago. in, mugs, up, wasn't watching. Maya's hair.

: U, `& i3 }# l9 Z7 X. z"You shower," said.

6 M" Q+ t9 F) C. Y  d/ r& s"I showered."

0 M) W% ?( S9 I- c, e"When?" laptop. "What it?"
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"Tuesday." mug. "My died." had. "I'm sorry. close?"

, k$ f) s( P) `4 x/ n"I I young. bugs."

2 r$ S# G' {) cMaya's didn't plan. "Bugs?"
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1 K/ L/ s  D$ i+ I  `! W"The Saturday. Nebraska."

% m( R9 B5 y  S( J"I me," said. she'd in. face, a hadn't noticed.
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"Nebraska," said.

; k! D+ a) h1 ^% `; f"It's Omaha."
5 O, D/ {0 g  U; D; l1 A' h# V! V
$ N: M4 @( i. w"Is Omaha?"

( b3 B& O2 I; |5 w2 O8 u( M"It's Omaha."
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6 U* b4 Z- [& A' z7 O( y"How near?"

; U6 G7 o: q4 A+ t"Close Omaha's area." chin. smelled, hers, Thursday.

"I'm Nebraska."

, `" s) s3 h# P" {0 |"You haven't Friday."
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) m; z  v! u& s4 ["I Sunday."
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"You a crackers."

"That's room."
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% q. B6 \8 a& j7 ^6 ~"You've days."
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# m- S, D& P3 Z% T$ n"They're Ritz. value."

"They value."

8 S7 D% T; e. c$ P. K0 Z/ e' N: J"They salt. a mineral." bed, Maya. a sign. material.

9 g* h9 \& ^, y6 `1 w' S% O"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.
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"What is?" asked.
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' S$ b4 b9 ?( H1 F1 R/ l* p"I don't know. land. a house. money, a I of. I asked, it's it's doesn't loud."

"So *might* something?
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"I Lloyd, a man."

"You a him."
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4 Y- |' }. H" h$ `4 o- P2 T& ~"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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6 P: }0 _; n' d7 `"I can't Nebraska. I this."
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"You fine."
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"I've days."

. A( g% P: {2 e7 d"It's a funeral. You'll in."
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( B; y( C- I  {4 e* S"I didn't him."

$ n+ Q  ]% F; _- _"Nobody's you." anything.
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"I Kyle," said. her. "You him."

"I nice."

"You said, I quote, he's a guy."
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"He a guy. a distance. I couldn't on."

) K0 M' Q3 T) @( Y+ ~3 f, R"You dinner. a gift."
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& G6 F, Y% s2 a1 `3 A"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."
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"I'm industry. dresses."

$ `, N) H7 m, ["Wear thing. that."
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! F+ Z0 S2 ^3 B$ H9 H  O6 m: F: L"That's a dress."

2 D; G  ^+ G+ X; {/ V* V9 y: O' N# q$ V7 h" won't mind."

"There's a Sunflower. charming. I corporations."
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4 G6 H7 M. t+ l% x; k, I6 K- {3 ~( R"A hotel. a Nebraska."
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2 Q$ v7 ]8 X, b- a% [; ["It a pool."
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8 j6 R% i" ^& _1 v  M"It's October."
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$ x8 c- S2 M9 h( I$ F  B"The exists, Maya. I'm it. I'm it's there. amenity."
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"It Motel."
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; Y  h- H, V9 D6 _& `"It's a a pool, I'm it's fine."

! E+ F* p" L; \4 a/ o& C% y0 M"You've there."

"I've it. clean."
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6 A- h% b- x2 V! K# ]" g"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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5 \2 s) \9 B  h% R"Three days," said. "Fly morning, Sunday. want. You'll a favor. I now, back. a life." friend. still.

( G# M6 c3 P) ]: k+ Q' r' _"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."

6 I  }9 K/ p: f" k3 C2 {0 h"If I go," said, "I'm anyone."

, m( P+ Y; r& r+ P& S+ S"You don't anyone."

1 p$ w9 A% [% x. j3 l"I'm invisible."

"Absolutely."

7 b" c6 N7 u* Z& ~"And I'm Sunday."

, T7 x9 J4 b- A* `4 F" \: y' ^"Sunday. Sunday." waist. stale. a moving.
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"Fine," said. "But I'm dress."
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"You're dress."
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) z# A8 r' i& w! J"Brooke."

"You're a a a Nebraska. happening."

"I first."

"You first." a had. identify. window. flat. She'd that. hadn't flat. rolling, sloping, flat. interruption. it. buildings. meeting.

9 F; q% {6 c6 w6 W  P"This left," said.
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, x! u' v5 {7 h"This I left." October, Nebraska, wasn't it. mud. left, bare. something, snow. a a a Brooke's a back.

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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They'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.

"The place," said, park. "Greek family. town. They've forever. Mr. hashbrowns." smiling. A one, a performance. a she'd here.
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0 Y  |% k& Z0 n, a"We'll Sunflower. I Mrs. pies." building. tables, a stools, a plates. A a October. 2 a in. loud, enough.

! c! Y, |% s7 m# f4 |9 R6 I8 _A 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.
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"You chili."
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"I'm chili."

: V( U- p2 u! F, e"It a roll."
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"Why a roll?"
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"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.
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"Brooke."

! m( |- V0 @! `- T2 t; q"The head. It's you'll eat."

"Brooke."

* x, n6 Z" p4 X7 x  J( \"What?"

"Don't fast." fast. Maya.

8 n8 l* V4 ]& w; h8 W, k# T  u4 ["How there?" said, low.

! o/ G' X/ f6 }3 J, D# O( S* G- B"I don't know. Let's ask."
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"Don't dare."

"What that?"

8 [, [& O7 f3 k( x2 B: A$ c6 v"Nothing."
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"That's you. a wall. a bikini. from?" a second. "It a commercial. a it."
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"A commercial."

! N; h  Z  V' M+ e! ^" z- d; x"Yes."
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4 j7 I& Q& s. t" Y, q; q' m7 E"You a commercial, me."

5 d- t3 r# l1 v"It seconds, Maya."

"We've a years."

"It wasn't relevant."
5 }$ h0 G7 j) W4 c( W0 d% P
; C5 v& ?+ e1 |5 \$ Y"You a bikini, wasn't relevant."

"Can order?" a pad. her.
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- E0 V+ }7 `. X! _) ^* `"How up?" asked, frame.

"Oh, that's years. Mr. aired. proud. were."
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"Mr. up," Brooke. "That's sweet."

1 }, e" K, V/ W  E: kBrooke's cement. "So sweet."
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" h& N9 `, r& {: q0 y6 m) _- s"What I ladies?" asked. a same. a salad. didn't went. ate. left. a week. prescribes, a suggest.

" V5 T4 M9 H" Z5 c6 {9 [& g"Brooke? Hendricks?"
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4 e+ |% s! F1 W$ f+ xA 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.
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"We commercial, I Gary, I girl," said. "Are those? new?"

: X2 z- M: L1 {9 B! c/ I"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.

"Denise."
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"Oh God, Brooke." others. longer. Brooke's Denise's a second. real.

"I can't you're here," separated. "How been?"

"Twenty years. take."
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# n8 k$ w& ~$ k% L"I match. that, right? I people. now, I her, I Hendricks, state." Brooke. a championship? volleyball? she'd a anything.
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' j' v) P( v% I' R3 q, q5 J; ~"That team," said. "That wasn't me."
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+ }; {# R9 @" r" s% A; D"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.

! g: {$ [/ i) b8 @- K7 x. b' kA a earlier, a she'd into. thinned. A tables. a a air.

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.

"Brooke," said.
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1 u/ {; n# Z( P- x) m$ h0 l. ^"Rick?" genuine. "What here?"

"I it."
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5 h+ v% {$ o5 j! R  o"You Inn."
5 L* J0 I5 ]. c/ x. n8 t
"Going years."

5 N, P( j( T! t' s# m: r"What Pappases?"

' y7 h, E7 g/ o* w6 \"Retired. grandkids."

"And it."
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: H% K: L7 f0 [3 ^" t7 A"Somebody to." again. same. counter, stools, menu. it.

"You same," said.
5 \3 U) s7 H4 S+ p$ }' O& V. \- K
2 U$ |" f! T6 u) }( K"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?"

"Through Sunday. funeral's tomorrow."
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, j; j- k0 D9 s3 {3 s1 _"Lloyd a man. He'd Thursday. counter. time. soup. who'd listen."

$ K/ w7 e8 P! x4 k$ E2 R- Y" VBrooke's softened. A man's else's memory. wasn't a exactly, he'd had.
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% T# J% q5 V) T/ \5 J  ~"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.

, ]' S" k$ J% d* S: o" D"It's funny," said. couldn't talk.
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"It's a a commercial." stomach.
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"I , I incredible."

"You incredible," managed. "On a wall. Nebraska. a bikini."
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8 C/ \! ^/ f) W" L4 t/ w, V! v3 @"I'm down."
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% z4 H; n% G, x) h8 d4 v. c0 @"You're down."
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"It's years, Maya."
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" j1 e2 s& `" c# N  W"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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8 U% R" M7 W$ A"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.

! ~6 `/ k" R2 S4 ~. n" g  h"At clean," Maya. beds, a dresser, a wall, a best. a a couldn't anything. a a problem.
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6 M) E. [+ h+ l4 M0 W! G"This nice," said.

"This a room." out. a hanger.

# S/ e7 N! [5 E. d* I6 m: Z"Where's dress?" said.
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8 B+ l" ~' r6 x6 }% V* T"At home."

"Maya."

! J) a. o7 C. Z0 H"It butt."
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"You a butt."
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"I'm a a Nebraska."

' n  i7 j' g6 C" N2 H9 b" it." a her, a drawer. Brooke, required.

"So," said. "A commercial."
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; N* I: m; p- f. W, q- ]' B"Don't start."

+ e" \  D/ j  S* ?1 ?9 U. U"We this."
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"And a championship." folding. Maya. "It a ago."

"You it. We've years, I didn't volleyball. I didn't a commercial. I didn't Tuesday."

"It didn't mattered."
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"It matters."

"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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"Tell Denise," said.
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" N* v9 z5 h! D; ?! lBrooke's softened. "Denise Holbrook. class. anything. I wouldn't eligibility."

1 ], q  H& ?& V5 i  r"She her?"
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; F4 `/ E. |0 T"She career, did. a UNL. scholarship. engineering."

"What happened?"

5 A7 T/ h* z- K1 o. c8 ["She leave." anything.
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"She left," said. "Her now." next.

"There's else," said.

, L) R( ]; q& F"What?"

"Rick."

"What Rick?"
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1 G, e0 C8 t" D  y) O7 w8 I, H"He a you." she'd a didn't exist. "That's insane."
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"I kitchen. you."
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"We school. I year. I don't why."

9 M% y6 e" @! u) t+ V  g/ U"I'm I saw."
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: A. o5 Z8 G, f5 z"You a hasn't years. That's a thing. That's surprise."

, @1 d* D7 R) F. s"Brooke."
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"Maya, I haven't years. hasn't me."
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% W- s$ F2 F$ {7 Q& w- [5 m"He wall." landed. it.
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: X* }2 Y( v4 Q5 ?  g"He same. that. didn't anything. That's me. That's Pappases."
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3 t6 m4 g) G+ H2 a- P0 v"Okay."
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3 x/ @! ?4 g* w/ R' f3 b/ U1 G; u"It's me."
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"I okay." suitcase. folded. she'd she'd wanted.
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( Z3 i# J( A( C. F0 s+ x$ L$ m"You need?" said, force.
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"Don't."
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"You tonight. family, too. there."
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"I don't men."
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"You don't Kyle. garbage. men. Ranchers. buckles."

, m) N9 g- B; \! r  F# X"I'm buckles."

+ i  a8 ]$ r2 [8 a"Some off. I'm saying."

8 H5 e. s& G) P& k0 G"You're saying."
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) m2 ^3 q+ A$ p6 k/ S% D: y) @% _6 E"And Rick, we're subject."

4 U. Q: i4 e( L$ {"We're subject."
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0 q6 g! n, ?0 Q# ]9 `! d$ B"Rick a school, I he's better." her. "You that."
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3 j, \- g' d0 A& Z3 ^) G"I'm information."

% J. n. t- D5 G3 F) ~$ X+ u"You haven't years, you're performance?"
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1 W- ]- f4 _! k% v8 V: _"I'm experience. That's do."
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"That's do."

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

9 q4 u: S0 f" A+ s"That say." a second. "Why him?"

"Because good."

"So you. boyfriend. name?" a second. "Todd."
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" e7 k9 T/ J( k6 T( u"Todd. months, I don't a him."

"Todd fine."
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"Todd name. later. don't a me?"

"I'm Rick."

& [2 L$ \3 }" t"You're anyone. When's a relationship?"

9 X5 I" R5 [: ^5 [& A- w9 Z; z* }"I've busy."
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"You haven't a a year. That's busy. That's picky."

"There's standards."

"Your aren't standards, Brooke. this."
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"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.

"You're done," said. it.

"I'm done."

"Okay."

0 L" I$ A5 f  m# l9 {"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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"I'm we'll leave. I tell, he's Hartwell."

"He a diner, Maya."
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' E4 s% Z" z* s2 F* m6 \"He diner. table. That's a king."
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"That's a town."
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"Well, queen. a title." laughed. "I a title. queen. a a foil."

0 I/ f2 s2 [' G& D7 g; C"Well, gravy." laughed. "I mean. I you. Hartwell, I'm anymore. I can't backward."

3 j3 Y/ |9 U8 ?( k  t0 Y"What it's backward?" a moment. smile. a door. she'd herself. a mirror. she'd given. didn't it. head, there, that.

"What thing?" said.
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0 {# Y+ j$ r: R# q" b- R3 O"Sevenish. A town. town's laws."
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"Of did."
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1 o. Y2 {: u  `7 y* t  E& T' b' f6 W"What wearing?" asked. a suitcase. black, packed, Brooke. mirror.
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"That's dress," said.

( g6 o: a4 M+ P7 j& H"It's dress."

"It's dress's cousin."

"It's a cut. everywhere."

"It anywhere."
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  }8 k9 b: Q. w2 X; F"I dress."

4 ?" T5 `  N! R# j  z1 P"You dress. That's point."

+ l1 ?, o$ E  k- F( Z% b"That's point. I haven't years. I'm a sweater." dresses, a tomorrow. one. Brooke's, simpler, there.

"Should I a it?"

' K4 Y) r7 ?2 J8 V"No!"

"I'll cold."
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"You're cold. cute." window. gone. a bugs. now. 3 a town, a trucks. a hut. A a a down. eave. A door.

"What this?" said.

"It's lodge."
' z% Z0 ?- F3 Y3 N8 t3 U2 U  L
"No, I building. shape?"
2 H) v/ o3 o8 E: `: ^, N
"I they're barns."

9 ^* o; X% B' Q! z"This isn't a barn."

4 O, {$ b$ {- n1 N"It's design. thirties. era. steel."
* p5 j/ B, G6 d- o& d
2 B% |, l+ c) O! S"Huh," said, it.
7 n$ f2 u% f) u' n4 v
2 R, u4 ^+ I( _. h2 W"Yeah," said, a up. car, a wall. nothing. day, it, had.

"How it?" asked.
# X* }% s+ s9 Z
"This mild," said, car.
; \/ s4 w- }1 n) ]/ D
7 T7 ]; n  n8 C5 F" v"This mild."
6 h: u# z# ~! ^1 Y0 H
: q( I# Z" ^% z" c3 p$ H# r# H"This mild. December."
$ E4 Z" ~. s, _7 H* k
"I won't December."

"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.
$ I8 Z6 ?- T! @
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.
* w# N. H1 ?# \+ ~/ ^% w
' m, U% b% Y) Z! rRick. 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.

Maya's plate. Go, thought. her. passed, stopping. be. shoulders. he'd a a suit, eggs, a marathon. him. she'd night. over.

2 c% E  M; B0 [6 C4 x"Rick! here, Angela. Angela, it?" stopped. happen. tie. room. easy, it.

"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?
7 S3 i# j9 u( `. k, R
A elbow. tall, shoulders, ago. a a work, he'd it. , it, wasn't it, combination.

"I don't I've before," said.
/ m1 n. z; e1 A0 `- }0 v+ D- Z
"I'm Brooke."

" N/ c# h5 M8 v) U" B"You're too?"

"Los Angeles."
" M1 Y7 C7 p7 A
"I've LA. Didn't it. people."

"There a people."

5 t9 o# m' Z# M( j0 k"I'm Dan. I've a town. acres." life, continue. acres. back. she'd for. Tall, confident, a edges, skin. she'd happen.

"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.
/ S  a( I5 p- b) Q
+ |1 i" H; w( Y( N: X1 CA a crackers, broken. her. That's she'd believed. wasn't everything. Kyle. down. Rick, Brooke. Brooke, touched. together. it. of.
" {3 L9 W1 M$ M5 q; R1 C
A over. "That good, right? it. won't recipe."

"It's good," said.

"Don't I that. She's impossible." smiled. A one. a week. out. they'd in. Maya's gravel.

+ ^! V/ ?- V5 S& k5 Z4 f3 ~) @"I can't legs," said.

  Y4 w: \7 C' H"You legs."
: V" v  D3 ^* r+ k( Q4 c
  q; f* [3 U+ c$ _# c8 M, B+ a" J"My freezing."
, t$ s4 X( d: I$ \' e2 y* d, `
"You a sweater."
3 S% {7 z, _- W" M0 ~: b/ N+ I
* @# T1 V" ?( j. h5 ^6 {% m& C"You a sweater."
; z7 W! m9 ^# g% n; j9 C* x
$ `  B0 U: e0 V4 M) B"And great." car. it, a it.
" }; T. N. j5 U+ c) S- n
1 q- J0 p5 g# k! U1 ]+ b0 K7 ^) q' g"So," said, lot. "Mr. Beltbuckle."
( ?! o# |0 s2 D; A; C
) c" Z5 y- l! @3 _% f"Dan," said.
9 h9 }9 ?: b' Z! D2 S7 T
& v% f+ P) G0 L& Z5 ~+ X% g"Don't."

"I'm pushing. I'm cute."
+ p/ D% ^9 L2 q' L' s8 E
2 e8 I( p. A+ {# u8 Y6 k"He cute."

"And down."
2 l, h1 {/ q4 `, ?* ~3 V# ~
"I did." a anything. dark. town. side.
+ U0 o* L: R- H0 k* R
"I'm push," said. "I didn't anyone, I it. you're ready, you're ready. you're not, you're not."

"Thank you."
+ D1 t! y* u1 {1 e) A  e9 l& l
3 {$ T/ x) s* e! ~+ o"But cute."

( Z' t6 |6 j) l5 E' A; A  P% q"Brooke."

"I'm done. I'm done." ahead. wasn't much. A a skyline. A streetlights, a sign, Street.

6 s& F; A) Q: M- p"You tonight?" said.

" d% L6 T, P8 c"Don't start."

9 r: \, O/ u% O& z% @"Rick nice. I mean, a disaster, suit."
+ d+ u5 {7 {; L& L2 y; P
) r4 a' p+ D; K  _"Goodnight, Maya."

2 D1 J' T0 e2 ^6 _1 \% M# ?3 z6 s"I night. him. one. Men, women, bartender. I them. He's town, doesn't be."

8 z/ d0 g3 r% x; |# D/ q"He's a man."
5 @% H& N& X  W- R5 V: \  D- M
; Y; f7 c5 g  o: R"He's a man. He's man, Brooke. I us." room. off. died. immediately.
" n$ A* A: |0 v. ?2 J, ?9 y9 T. q: S3 d
"I too," quietly. "I suit. I means. doesn't anyone."

"So?"

"So nothing. I you. I can't backward."
: C' C* l$ X& r9 C: y4 }
+ e0 c0 H& M& U6 \* j"What he's backward? he's time, waiting?"
6 z6 V7 C9 ^6 _
( S* G0 A4 C/ [) J, S! q"That's a story, Maya. That's a story. That's a stuck."

"He didn't stuck. a diner. same. a a a week, you. That's stuck. That's rooted." wheel. quiet. A softly, a cold.

3 J( [& p8 l7 ]* {. v"We a morning," said. "I sleep." out. total. door. card. green, sound. bed. closet.
7 h' M0 ^/ u- V4 b- D. v
"He's rooted," again, quietly, herself. side.
: n$ ?* f' f( Z3 w: r
"Goodnight, Maya."

" T/ ?) f& `" @7 v# A3 f"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.

. R3 v9 q4 I/ u' C"Brooke." stopped. "Five minutes."
7 Q& c: p6 c3 e# y- b4 b  A7 N' `
* W, k' x" J% h$ Q: E' @% _# T"You minutes, ago."
: r$ Y# n3 k, b: T
"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.
) y- x  ^* n8 b' u& m- I* ?9 Z' A
"You perfect," said.

"I mother."
* E! A# E+ x/ }* X% q9 x: j- i6 O
* B! G2 ^$ u# h; K* b! w0 I"I mother, beautiful."
% z( N( p( t! B# A9 ]9 z6 L
$ G. D# ~7 X+ {; r"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.

% X  s! y* _& _$ G& l5 WA arm. "We're cemetery. There's family." Maya.
- R5 J' h/ R* ~, C
"Go," said. "I'll Sunflower."

"Are sure? I don't stranded."

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

0 G% e! q7 E1 r0 t; |" F; ]"There's a after."

"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.
% y% E: {5 T  i* k( J
I a waited. came. a row. a YouTube. it. up.
8 z7 `8 [& c$ A; s" |
6 k6 [$ v; ]/ |: V# B5 ~1 P) m: p*Which favorite?* replied.

3 j+ X! z; z+ u$ qI

. v5 f' O# k5 U2 \2 AI'm a minute. Then: side. a word. execution. perfectly. a a Inn. cute? sixteen,
8 \9 n$ B9 c% i) X
I

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

I

I car, mine, I don't laughing. a Nebraska, a bed, down. car, trapped, making, parents' a cemetery. do?
! ^- F' g. c3 `2 J( i0 \
9 o: C* L* C0 y  U: vI I a
" a6 l+ e* y) f7 K/ K. a6 Y# |, ?! v
+ i& y4 q8 m$ P- u3 T4 C+ l0 aYou're

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.

% k0 J( X; B+ E5 m) g$ ]"Afternoon," back. mouth. She'd life. bank. A a couldn't windows. on, something. one. a go, other, walls.

# N! h2 C: d. s* jdown. didn't to. changed. late. for. her, concrete.

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.
  V$ H' K1 D  `2 n
"Brooke's friend," said. "I'm sorry, "

1 V1 G/ m. ?% P& ^- R. ^"Maya."
9 j' P0 U0 F0 z
"Maya. Right. I'm sorry. Where's Brooke?"

"I'm sure, actually. funeral. a teenagers, I haven't since."
& G- J* j7 ?8 Y! `; Q
"The Muellers' car?"

2 L* W+ c8 g8 X1 ]' D7 t" X"I don't car. I it." smiled. "That's Muellers'. kids. won't a hours."
7 W% K' s2 @% Z* n5 n
"A hours."

2 B+ T+ h/ }* O% T- v# c) o"At least." down. a a afternoon.
4 w3 l4 g6 |1 f: ~
' F! y' N  r% w* c% z! A"I can't anything. We're done. I toast. hot."

"Toast great." a coat. down, plate, out. him. A door, it, Closed. started. tables. A a mop. counter. a a coffee. a second. booth.

, ?1 u0 d7 S. q4 E9 ~0 I2 q"So," said. "How Hartwell?"

"I a town."

"And?"

"People me. Strangers. sidewalk. hello."

8 j. D% U, T/ X8 o% [& E"That's do."
- }5 {9 b/ `2 y( V  j+ h1 v
; ]9 Q' c$ y. j, Y"That's I'm from."
/ G0 Y" ^2 U5 G* e2 A
"What you're from?"

5 t9 {  R% e; _' B"They faster." smiled. yesterday. A one. Smaller. a toast. toast. bread. hungry, warm, closed, better.
; S1 z  ^' q) c; G( E
"Can I something?" said.

"Sure."
# Y  @' H0 o; `9 \" I
4 I  N6 y% N3 e8 v: F, L. Y"Brooke years. it?" booth. "Mr. Mrs. years. county. retire, sale. buying. A it, else. a store."

" x% [0 [' e+ Z' a! ?0 J& m"A store."
6 k! T6 g- j& m/ I6 ^3 E+ E
; R6 u* ?/ X$ E" {) O! a9 G"In Hartwell. a day." laughed. A one. it, had, she'd itself.
+ Z- x. H. ]3 z  T/ W# N6 d# J0 {
"So I it," said. "Mr. condition. He'd me, me, I going."
9 f, l+ N2 a9 p6 G4 T$ b
"What scholarship?"
& q  B, S4 ^2 n
"The a ago. a a college. It's a lot, a matters. Mr. I going. I did." nothing. understand.

& m3 v- {: V) ]2 J" y; k"And same," said.
4 l6 o  _% C9 g1 \
"The right. right. Mrs. it. I wasn't I better." jacket. gone. quiet. them, moving.

2 K! a8 A  z4 O# q"What you?" said. "What LA?" buzzed. it. I mother, I scream. down.
+ b/ I1 k1 L" {1 F
! J2 ?6 Q' V3 a3 {" w"Everything okay?" said.

: w, u; P  [& X; N8 |"Brooke's fine." didn't back. to. didn't.
0 y9 F' s5 r. e5 L9 N* b2 ?
& ^6 S% F" R. y/ k+ e  d2 y+ ]  n"I a company."

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

"A vet?"

"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."
2 l4 T% \) x8 e9 ]* j1 W: t- o
"What hamster?"
+ n; p5 [( Y* j7 F# N1 }6 s
"My it."
& S. O2 ^. o' ]6 M
2 M/ {) Q3 K  j& g"It chair. a blanket. didn't it. down, Peanut."

4 V0 K- C7 {& u3 N5 L8 f- E8 Q"Peanut?"

"Peanut Butter. name. a hamster."
3 \2 T7 g9 B! y& r* W5 W" O
! ]: s& G% y! H"Your her?"

; v8 y0 Z( g8 _"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.

5 a% C/ F0 n$ D) h5 f0 k" k  @"I'm Butter," again.
" _7 [2 h4 \, R- i3 a% {6 k; _# f  F
& M! U: e4 O6 W5 {2 Z1 H8 b; e"She a life. Short, good."

"How job?" hands. "I up. I "It." I a people. later, I there. faded."

. Z4 P$ @/ W4 l! @+ w( O"Do it? animals?"

) ^2 I) ~! X7 a1 P"I me." up, hadn't him. time.

) ]/ J) b: ^& y"What you?" said. "You here?"
% Q! _9 D2 t2 D
"Born here. town."
% x  {" h% U) U/ F; W6 }0 g
7 Q0 Q( q7 ^8 _9 q. `6 D"And left?"
. u3 s) r. ]% {$ m$ ^3 |/ |
6 o9 u' G' K0 V2 }* ]2 M, i: Q"Never a to."
: p+ W: j6 P1 N9 f' U
1 m4 r1 u$ v4 d3 {6 O# ]* C"Not once? there?"

9 @# Z, X1 J0 d& h"I've places. I'm a hermit. I a back." that. She'd hadn't for. a something. she'd stubborn.
8 t) N/ Z7 Q# T
1 X! a. ]8 O. B9 C, F7 Z"Do farm?" asked.

) p2 {0 l& ~+ G"Still there. I diner. animals."

% b( {3 Y7 k9 V"What animals?"
" i; R* P1 _+ K, A
"Chickens. eggs. purpose. A place."
, e. N: X/ F4 ^+ p) ^
# p0 |' Y% @, c8 R5 D1 S"A Oscar?"
2 L  I& H5 N; N" K
  Z8 {0 e2 a) s2 Z% q, L"He's boss. it. I it. it."

( _1 G4 ?9 C1 U* c"You Oscar."

! s) k% o0 ~3 W7 k  N$ E"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.
! s) D4 P" m$ q" J/ s2 G" ?! f
"Can I something?" said.
+ H' `$ _; T- P9 M/ Q7 ~, ]
0 q: c4 k: P, t6 P7 x6 l"Okay."
5 w7 k  V3 y5 }8 {! Z8 E% j- C
7 g+ l6 X) _; z" Z"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.
; W( Y; w! R# w# c& x3 v5 x
"Then it." on. a a door. him, walking. color, amber, rust, a life. cold, warm, didn't a for.
; T3 ~) a# P# \8 a. r. w: q9 V3 H9 a( k
"There," said, line. "Watch." direction. Turkeys. them. Big, trees, a didn't there. a a commotion.
& L: v: t" M. t
"How there?" said.

"Thirty, forty. fall. They'll spring." bed. A a crackers. a trees.
: q' _( G' l: J0 F0 D1 }4 i3 ~, q
/ Y1 c" q6 M2 m. }9 }"Come this," said. a bent. "Beaver lodge," said. "They've fall. mud? That's today."

"They today?"
5 z$ V  S  o% f' S
"Every day. build, repair, add. stop."

"That's exhausting."
0 l- M8 P! k6 O' r. p% {
9 X' ?( U' G0 X3 l; J2 X% j"That's beavers." lodge. it. not. a stopped. stopped. side. couldn't anything.

"What?" said.
7 z) I8 M4 X8 ^- S  X
4 n6 K: V8 ]* ?& Q! H: v. s"Shh. there. trees. him?" a moment. it. A deer. A buck, risk. big. Maya, deer, big.

"That's Gerald," said.

"You a deer?"

"Gerald a years. He's smart. Mr. years, far."

"Mr. Miller."

"Good customer. morning. well. I'm Gerald."
& B/ Q1 S6 T/ |- ~# G5 A6 Z
"You're customer?"

- N' b4 f! f5 `"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.
- |' f/ D2 E9 ~8 y
% L1 e  C& P: W4 e' U"Can I something?" road.
' p8 x" s* w* c- }% Q% L& O
"Sure."
5 C9 U* X3 s! x
"Would tonight? yes. there. formed. stopped.
' f3 U! }5 }6 z$ G; C# i
) P  M. G3 c0 n6 ~"I Brooke," said. "She tonight."

$ q7 V) M, @- Y" o8 i"Of course."
3 N, X, u6 Y) P  Q
1 _1 K0 k0 W  ]  {"It's a no. I she's okay."

7 l* u0 b6 @% ?"Take time." lot. gone. truck. she'd in. jacket. there. she'd Rick's truck. was.
: [* z+ L) s( G3 M/ ?
"Can I a Sunflower?" said.
7 o1 R8 r+ D$ R+ ?# }3 Y- w$ Q
"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.

4 H. R" L9 A7 S# T7 [- c* B"It's beautiful," said. herself. her. road.

"Yeah," said. "It is." lot.
5 I7 g2 a% t+ ?9 j% Q$ d8 Q/ m* Y. |. w
"That one," said, door. it. idled.

"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.
, k7 o1 A( v4 \
"Rick tonight?! Inn? you?" bed. "What you? night? happened?"

8 k/ _5 s% l4 L"We talked. toast."
/ x2 n& d! M; O. B" c  i% Y
"Toast?"

, T1 G; ?/ F: B; g: e: ~"The closed. had."

8 G8 p( j( e- P* }"So, toast, he's dinner. toast?"

"We talked, Brooke."

0 n; W, R, {3 t; |4 e! N9 i$ L"About what?'

* _7 \: B% n- J9 ["He diner. family. creek." moving. dry.
- p; X" b( A8 s$ y1 A* ~
% @3 J# i  S5 t( I* q: l/ z" K& P$ g"He turkeys?"

$ H+ h- r0 ^$ V1 Z"They roosting. trees. amazing."

5 Z5 T6 }% o% C5 v0 V: ]"Turkeys. trees."

' e$ Z" |" J& P* P! Z"Thirty them."
' m9 ?" @, _1 ~  }' i
"You sleep."
& k( z$ i, {2 m4 j  f5 q1 w, b
1 t5 [. I6 N  w+ r"There beavers. a Gerald." bed. shoes. relief.
, [3 a& _  f1 |) D; f1 \9 B
- h/ Y4 }* @! K' A0 g8 I"You're smiling," said.

"I'm smiling."
6 ~) |" Q& R, Y3 {
"You're smiling. I here, hasn't weeks. I don't it. Turkeys, a a name, toast. you're smiling, I it."

8 b7 r0 V, B+ w4 h/ V' v# F"Thank you."
! V9 z/ {7 L& }$ j5 m
( j1 v8 V# ^. `' f' |/ \$ @"You're welcome." paused. "Now afternoon. Hartwell, I a a a I a me."
! M9 p+ s! V" a8 i: O4 H% }
"I that."

& q, r! @9 }8 \) s* S$ K! P9 e9 O"You texts. experience. smile. commercial. car. Maya, a parents' sedan."

"Did it?"
. h9 Q, Y1 j+ C+ c
"Of I it. I say, no? out. It's now. a a a cemetery."

"That's beautiful."
. L! \+ Y& I! A
"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.

* v2 k$ F( o5 D"I'm fun," said.

"I fun. I survived. fun. turkeys. I a a face."

9 r  E( o" y4 `7 Y"So I tonight? There's church."

# m# R+ \* g$ H* g"Maya. Go."
$ b0 y' l1 [9 U3 Y- S
"You're sure? I'll me."
5 r$ m) M% Z2 m) i# v) T
  @4 J; E1 w: |! j# W5 j) r* ?( s"There a event. I fine. dinner."
) C* n- l, W) _: g5 r9 k+ c
"Thank you." phone. typed:
7 r0 U! C. V, c8 H3 w4 @
/ I3 _8 u. x. qYes. time? down. reception. had. fine. drying. else.
' T/ k* N4 ~4 s7 i( ^
"I don't top," said.
5 @0 L4 ?* ^! s6 e, H% o
"What shirt?"
) I7 @4 n. R* s# Q$ {4 Q+ [
"It smells."
2 }3 L' h0 S6 V
"Like what?" chair. "Like coat." men's chair. collar, a scene. arm's length.
* B6 m/ e! i. d
- A+ x+ ^5 O+ v. _"Maya. this?"
2 w( z, B0 O- h' k# P3 u
"It's a coat."

/ n1 o& T/ L" ]* h6 A& E) T"Whose coat?"
: M+ C/ [3 b3 g5 w8 n$ \  s
"Nobody's coat. desk."
* F- L4 t# }' ?) F+ f  a
"You a coat."
/ n0 x1 F" B2 X4 g, k; m
"I a coat. found. it."

. A7 |9 y$ ^4 ?7 B( A"It's enormous."
- X* s% ~4 j2 I
"It's warm."
" u& T% w! B( _' d
"It a barn."
3 j) t0 `; g" U1 F& W% L9 }
4 n/ e+ w  g2 U- }  t% U"Is a went?"

% J0 q8 h7 R' f' t"It found, Brooke. it."
  B: \% F% j# O, Q8 x/ e: T
( L, k4 R% _3 E! n"Are it?"
" R* t# E* S; W! H, P' n" G
2 T" A3 s; X% X, X$ X! F"I'm it. We'll tomorrow. It'll found."

"You're a stranger's a best."

5 I$ v2 E6 C! U/ A4 W' c"That's I'm do."
1 T2 ?( {( |- V1 [% q0 F/ g
" Q. V+ R( A* b/ p"This now. A Nebraska."
7 s, s$ Y) _* E2 J! e' ], e
"Can situation?" suitcase. a top. simple, green, fitted. up.
, J" Y2 j. K) Z" B( U/ _
"Try this." her. "It small."

5 a) K, O+ q2 |& w* }, m"I know. a try. fantastic." on. fits. chest. waist. uncomfortable, present. mirror. a a a she'd afternoon. bathroom. didn't a second. once.

. ~! E  [& \2 s; o, r; ^"That works."

"It's tight."

# B1 k9 e  Z  y- s  T5 s1 b4 W"It's perfect."

"I I'm trying."
( F8 P( }' ?  s" _: l& b0 X
"You happened."

- F# s2 d# S/ l: \) E- x& hMaya's buzzed. it. passed.
8 |7 f0 |5 g3 A
A face. *I'll 7.* phone. it.

) n1 x6 [6 \. s"A face. a face. That's criminal. I haven't decided."

6 ?1 P+ c+ d: I- j$ ^"He's seven."
3 L3 }$ j' G* _
"Then down. I'm hair."

7 f% `) Q9 P8 X! H" S  a8 F"You're hair."
) g  W' H5 R4 P4 w* Q
4 R0 v6 x4 d/ N1 x"I hair. hair. down." down. a a women's it.

"For record," said, "I'm Rick."

" \4 P( L4 `0 o' B5 F"I didn't stop."
7 N1 a8 V" r. x" c
$ {* ]! ]5 o$ E6 Q3 r, C"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.

" M# N3 t% {$ ?3 v$ [8 }"He's a man," said. "I've that. He's man." a door. it. flannel. cap. a day.
% |5 W0 f* v  X2 m# w- n% b0 Q* f3 g
% Q+ B6 I  X: [  S"You turkeys," said. "You a woman."
8 l' y+ T6 X: j, C. }8 j$ |
2 g8 D) }+ D" Q' w"She'd them," said.
4 l+ K8 G; O, S2 W5 o- r
8 ^- ]- o) N' b$ h  L. z, H"That's turkeys, Rick. them" smiled. easy, didn't bait.

"You nice," Brooke.

"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.
1 f2 @8 l5 E( v7 ?
2 H# z/ [9 F" K# @' r  H8 W"Ready?" said. jacket.

"Ready." frame. her, said, hear, "Attentive." back. she'd back, face, now. right. earlier. right, left, town. Inn.
" h7 G, p+ S: T5 R4 t' Q, x
9 q4 o  a8 |% S2 C/ z1 F5 f- ^"Where going?"
" X6 u" L; K7 w5 V6 s
"The Iron."
% F6 M7 R& ?8 a/ K' j" r; M3 f
3 K& h, @0 U3 e* X: q" G* m, X"I cooking."

  p/ c# L4 ~0 [! s$ n6 w"Tonight I cook. Iron. I lunch, dinner. understanding."
9 `- U4 `- N2 K, M- s% n
"An understanding?"

) B" U- {2 s& x! d8 O2 _( }# j( B"Nobody anything. It's works."

"You a competition?"
7 A" j$ x5 T& q" [9 O+ ~& |
"They're competition. They're neighbors." ago. trucks, Iron. Junction. it. A letters, E flickering.

"Saturday night," said. street. "First soon. now, we're a up." truck. own, wasn't there. bumper, walking.

"You okay?" said.

"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.
! s* j5 ]7 Y2 H# P% Q9 ~0 Q' T0 h8 t
, l* `9 X* {1 c& s  }A appeared. a she's a decision.
# t4 B3 X4 {& A+ s3 c& _% [
"Hey, Rick. tonight?"

) i0 l( s! R0 ~2 k: n) H"Two tonight." menus.

"What I drink?"
- l+ i4 m2 a& G
"Beer," said. didn't specify. didn't ask.

"Diet Coke," said. left. room. menu. Steaks, burgers, steak, a cattleman's platter. it.

"What's good?" asked.
4 }! [( o! v  x  b8 Y4 u
"I ribeye. "

* Z+ {* h1 ~2 |  q- a, J"Usually. time?"

3 n9 J4 U, h2 o0 S8 k"I've things. I don't when." smiled. salad. They'd menu, theater. a a Coke. "Ready?"
5 w$ A6 \( k. P  R$ ]) r
+ E5 W. \1 i% ~- r$ x/ \: M"House salad," said. waitress's face. Brief, professional, hidden. look. She'd a a it.
  s7 e8 X" ?8 d- C5 ?& ~% `' p
  \" d! }' ~/ y: a) v$ `1 d9 P"Ribeye. ," said. kitchen. together. out. Rick's shoulder.
1 X/ V/ L& b5 c9 j1 g  E! R
! V5 l+ @" p0 m& G9 _4 l' ]% S"Good you, sweetheart," said. hands, his. easy, practiced, a before. Maya.

"Who's friend?"
/ g) X6 h; V  e0 _- G# r8 b
6 B& S% e& }/ v! Q% c& v, o"This Maya. She's Hendricks' LA. I earlier, I'm night. tomorrow."
9 L: B! X( l) g' d. q, }
4 v' P5 S0 E1 H: h* u( a"Brooke Hendricks. I haven't years. she?"
2 g* J7 Y4 w  C4 J  o9 V$ _
"She's good. She's Lloyd's funeral."

"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.
+ m1 L, x7 M# H0 W# X- c; F
"Can I something?" said.
2 {7 _: E: ~/ G3 T& s  L7 R! y
"Sure."

, z7 l6 j" m5 I% l"Your truck. I truck." she'd a wasn't expecting.

"It's a stepside," said. "My mornings. There'd cars. I them. I trucks."

) r$ h: c& C# d6 w"Your a guy?"

' ?# H- \2 u0 V- g/ g* L8 L" j"He a guy. look. He'd a there. He'd anyone."

1 p6 \) C( @) f6 X0 M) h/ |; h' T"Sounds a morning."
) p* W/ ]' ^) X1 B( q0 k
5 p( D1 n- _' q! E"It morning. I haven't years." him. "So from?"

"My grandfather's. couldn't anymore, years. I I it."

"You yourself?"
9 ~7 _& l$ d( b6 m4 `  A
' q1 N+ V: n3 c# ~$ T. J5 s* n8 d"Every piece. years. I I went. I I time. I I couldn't right."

"Three times?"

"I right. truck." that. A grandfather's a right. a recipes.

: W& N# f  f0 u- _# N"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.
4 a) n5 D" l  ?0 ^
$ p7 H2 ^" n! Q- R% b3 T7 D  I" a; u"Tell LA," said. "Not job. wanted." down. "I a star. I everything."

4 }9 ~- n" X& D"What happened?"
' t: T  k# Y  i, ?9 g2 C7 A' {
- x( ]$ l! ]8 Y) R+ {; j  h"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.

"There easier. a I it." a she'd said.
7 j7 {1 v1 u4 o, p5 P3 c
"I didn't it," said.

"I know," said. him. "How know?"

. m  H1 W3 O) X; z8 ?"Because you're it's you. did."
, Z5 e; x; }* l& _: @1 G+ _$ k" x( I
"But going," said.
0 p! u7 Y$ y8 Y
4 ~# u# Q$ V! e- n"I I wrong. I going, alive." hadn't before. Brooke, anyone. Rick.
0 \8 ^  q$ n) Z  d
! {, m! a# F/ P; c% Q! U5 I"Are trying?" laughed. quotes. "My "agent" hasn't a year."
4 @+ z. j, S- ]0 v: }8 v
; G9 k) _, o9 q7 M- j/ Y"Do it?" asked.

" z. T2 L. l1 a"I happen. I don't failing. awful." he'd she'd her.
; Y- ^$ L2 `+ M3 M' {
A booth. older, he'd life. a Rick's other.
4 q0 W& D* f. D" J2 X
! T" X; n( U; W% Q5 j"Rick." up. "Frank." a you've decades. Maya. "And lady?"

# h, q8 e6 E# ~  G"This Maya, Angeles. I'm night. tomorrow."
. s; D, q; W9 E' u! h
% G" t& M5 N/ z2 K% f8 `"Well, tonight." a was.
& {2 @/ g4 X# n/ h
A him. She'd time, smiling, she's a times. Rick, Maya, Rick. "You know, I once."

" V' ?9 T- w3 p4 F, |& I"Frank," said.

. r, O- t2 [$ l: Y9 |"Fifty ago. friends. now." Frank's arm. "Don't him. story."
9 Z6 L, o8 A9 T9 G2 g4 P8 R
& z# t9 _# Z* Z5 j6 ~"Because it's a story," said. Rick's back. Margaret.
) u% f( X' i/ b5 i* A8 D: e( Y" s! U
"How's hip, Margaret?" said.
3 Y. r( i( @1 z
( U0 }: R1 M5 K2 A( i/ @, d"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."
& Z5 j' t2 C# M8 [! L/ C4 U
1 v4 Y' I7 T* V"Thank you, Margaret." Margaret's arm, together. Slowly. they've there's it. down. didn't anything. hadn't before. him. him.
% e/ M1 w- O0 F  s: O3 T) y
$ a6 D: a* [% f' f3 c3 S4 O"She nice," said.

& U# l3 ?$ P; Y% i  e"Margaret years. me. town."
; n+ a- N; F& T4 }- o2 A. `
7 N# f+ c5 o5 {' j9 b1 |"And soup."

+ t) z" \+ K' }$ g"She bisque. It's menu. I her." him. there.

+ f! R$ C, W( w9 Z' N"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.
( s7 l3 ~6 W3 N$ K; W" {0 N
% G3 R8 V/ \2 P0 [# V5 c"You dance?" said. floor. didn't recognize. wasn't.
" O  g4 Q# p: I. s# m
"I don't that."

"It's a I'll you." hand. it. simple. her. four. hip, shoulder. boot.
6 `, Z) M* X8 ]# B
"Sorry."

"I've toes."

"You not."
; ]+ \0 e# m& y' `# e; A
"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.
2 ?, A3 {) X+ C, T% j& A, n9 \( ~
"We're dancing," said.
$ ^1 L& X$ E: ]: m4 G! p' Z
"I don't this."

"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.

, Z7 k0 [5 J! V- H; nended. smiling's a she'd later. clapping. them. song. night. belong. booth. it. flushed. smiling.
, S# F. s+ S" S- c1 \4 k
"Where from?" said.
7 a# i! z$ c8 S0 d$ Q" M
"Sunset Boulevard."
. @$ x6 N! D" v5 {2 x) d
"I there."

"You fine."

2 E& `4 `  X8 I7 U/ k4 @. Y  o"I fine. I there."

"You commitment," said, him. "That counts." her. he'd motel. floor, up. watch.
/ M/ w) s* l+ `3 v- {
/ V3 s2 N, M% g  C"," 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.
& I& a2 [4 q( w8 A, F' m* i
3 A" t, L7 z8 o% {3 D7 ["I dam," said.

"The lodge?"

( E3 a! ~4 P+ Q8 e6 R"I they're done."
$ a( s( l( I, H: F4 _0 c! R
- ~9 p8 |+ V  m1 b" @! f+ q"They're done. That's beavers."

  |. w! b& a/ P! M& k"Then I photos. a renovation."

) T6 V8 x& {( M& s, ~"I that."
2 L! E8 ?/ t0 J- J- t
( B# X9 z* y# t"Seriously. I updates. I doing. I Mr. him."
/ t0 T% w( T$ u  t& s
+ ?( e7 J% r+ B0 Q1 u- E2 ^"He won't."

% K8 a) Q; A6 j4 R) G) j' D"I anyway." a moment. said, "I'm today."
. s& t4 w& _! F& j  `# ~; B
7 g* K8 u, d- A1 u! s; `"To diner?"

"To Hartwell." dark. night. trees. tomorrow. morning. wouldn't.
# P& t8 f9 @; P1 m* Q7 F
0 ~5 [5 Y- U8 ?! ~# t"You LA," said.

"LA."

: U# F! h3 P0 y+ @5 f# g"I'll dancing. dancing. "

"I I fine."
# X2 i2 h4 p- g
+ I+ g+ J: s: R6 J, K' Z"You commitment. That's thing."
0 S9 t2 G9 ?8 o: Z+ Q0 ~
"I don't me."
% ^4 x0 \/ }  g, a% n
"You'd survive. I'd you."

"From what?"
5 b6 N) I! M2 X# J- [
"From everything. traffic. people. dancing." him. sign. a 1962. him. long. deep. stolen, who'd to. it. back. her.

6 P3 p' _' J0 ?; D4 R"Goodnight, Rick," said. out. her, didn't care. door, card, back. mouth.

, y( `! ?# B' G- L8 P, IBrooke's empty. church. heater. bed. it. lips. face. hadn't hadn't knew, over.

: C) y6 A) a0 WShe'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.
+ m9 B) v+ `, i
; k$ I7 F0 f4 k/ i5 J& X  `"You knocked," said.

7 B4 {6 {) p2 h8 I" {; A"I knocked."

6 B2 v  V: B0 @- W"You a key."
- S4 d$ T6 n* w" W. z
/ o* R9 O2 x, P1 r6 v"I cautious."
+ S/ l" x  J/ p0 {
"I've minutes." bed. Maya. carefully, information. "You same."
  p- S; L" o( X3 `5 a5 D% \
"I same."

/ y$ ]- ?( V1 `3 \  k"You're smiling."
$ ?: O9 G0 K' T, J! q! h% `* M
: Q( u9 X& [( d1 P8 x" X"I smile."
$ w8 \5 V7 ]6 Q! P
! u% e8 I2 P' a# e. {"You haven't weeks, can't stop. happened?"

"We dinner. ribeye. I salad."

. r- ~  V8 [- i: M5 g8 F"You a a steakhouse."

( h$ W. t7 W4 D"I did."

' B" ~6 C* ?7 F- \) f"Of did." bed. "Tell everything."
! B* I) N5 n5 m1 @
"There's tell. ate. played. "
1 g4 F; g3 ?1 x) D/ U" z2 [4 X
"The what?"
) _' n* G  D' x) c4 a
3 \- i8 O: W8 {; M) i* {"It's a dance. steps. counted."
( e9 W6 c% E: `+ e2 R
) _) T. J8 s" K% @! U: p"Rick a dance."
$ z1 q7 Z  N1 @& O* X$ t
! F6 U* _& l0 t2 k+ M" R" T"He's a dancer."
. b3 Y( g% b& B
; W. M& c8 a3 W"I that."

"But he's a teacher. Attentive," said, her." smiled, her.
, Y# v; F6 `4 D( k, Y; ~
"Did himself?"

' Q8 a- A( v! U2 H) _4 o"He a gentleman."

"Too perfect?"

"He biscuits." her. "He biscuits."
3 n, W# q& d, k+ y: q
"Sunday breakfast. seriously."

# |) G- ~; g" R, @% b% C"He a a biscuits."

"That's did."
  k+ b2 }5 N/ E# W" j: f
"That I've saddest."

+ `& r' S, b' z/ U"It's thing." again. look. "You a time."
0 ]5 w! J: `# ]# y& H8 n& B
% t# X; J# ^- w# F2 K"I a time."

# y6 e  K" ~/ A7 c( h"Are okay?"
; P" H0 O  k6 v4 ^
6 I: w9 ~3 H* s, K"I'm okay, Brooke." second. push. didn't push.
5 {/ m* p+ D; e. ]  g
"Well, basement. Hartwell, I a a a illegal."
8 U& G- E7 B' I' K! H, }4 u
"Was good?"

"The green, Maya. it. I didn't were, I don't know."
9 P; e. k. ~7 b" Q/ r6 E
' t0 O) ?% ?4 Y7 @1 X  N"Did you?"

7 P5 X! a! t5 P; U! ~7 Y; y"Everyone me. A I've I talent. talent. a seconds."

& U; M! l" ~6 h# c"You that."

4 l& x# `. x2 }* [$ G4 M"Thank you."
7 p7 C4 f3 r$ }9 \$ Q/ G6 |
"You gum."
6 s5 Q+ y) g! V$ ]3 |3 Y
"I'm I you." laughed. now. day. nose. "What smell?"
" i8 O, R: X& s2 E3 Z
"What smell?"
  _$ q/ j2 ]$ s* o4 Z$ s& M5 a1 l
$ |" l6 v8 r' v4 v: \; J"That." chair. "It's room."
# I9 U# c6 F4 _6 A
, V) G( X5 c8 p& c0 T) n  e$ ~' q"It's bad."

"Maya, after."
( C# Q& z( x5 C: [
" L3 Z  S5 e* p"I day, I'm fine."

: E! @, @% ^: O7 l( H"You've You've it. doesn't suffer."

# c* I: ~$ A  ]"It's a coat."
4 j! T7 Z+ F. ?" `0 U+ e" c
1 J3 w. {( N$ H* l2 W% n8 b1 W"It's a crime. I door?"
( S9 Z3 `9 h* q+ M) t( {! e
& F: W/ \4 T# F0 T"It's not."

* k+ X* \1 c1 G( b! z  H6 q"I a a a a bugs. bathroom." hand. "Fine." she'd earlier, arm's length, fingers. bathroom, floor, door. a wasn't escape.
& o$ U6 U0 H8 c, b" l9 ]
9 {+ F, G2 k9 s' a0 W( ["Thank you," said.
" t- y4 E. p# Q+ ~0 F
% L- Y2 J* X) ~6 q- ^"You're dramatic."
4 S$ _; d  H" c% j" V0 }  @
8 ^7 H/ m8 i( T8 h( G. V"And a barn. Goodnight."
9 ?) d) r4 U& u5 Q6 U
2 O3 m8 n3 e8 K5 [5 k"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.
" T  Q# q  o* s2 p9 [
"They ten. We'll latest. flight's two. It's tight, works."
0 I& n4 l% a8 G+ {0 O
"It works," said. dresses. didn't Brooke.

Brooke's rang. up.

+ B* m6 T: f0 u  e"Hey, Mom." Brooke's change. gradually. a eyes.
6 C0 B" R! }" i
"What it's pushed?" folding.
. I% |4 I3 I  A0 _
6 s, {6 `" v3 j" \"To when?" bed. "Monday. Why?" couldn't words. were, Brooke's tighten.
  w' R2 G" Q" }/ T% f6 O0 t- k1 M
* f9 D" L( c8 C! F# ?" R3 D"The sheriff? this. a game?" eyes. "Mom. Lloyd's night, there's can't a Sunday?" something.

6 Z/ J. {( g! w+ j  _"And books?"
0 ?5 y- Q& z9 m9 [  q
2 M% O& l9 q6 G/ E. O"Nobody country?"

& K8 O0 |- h. J$ wBrooke's reasonable. Brooke's not.

"Monday. morning." ceiling. "Fine. We'll flight. you, Mom. I you. I'm now." up. Maya.
9 C- u( F' y$ \$ V" E. l# [0 M/ Z
; ?5 q) _, Y' E9 b5 Y"A game, Maya. A game! sheriff, a a county. lawyer, Hartwell, enforceable."

& ^8 l# C, o0 {, N; N! p5 ["That'"

" K0 P9 v3 H7 b9 v6 d! k# @: e"Don't it's charming," Brooke.
1 {/ g# P& j7 N: D! O
- D1 }% u5 M2 e"I wasn't it's charming."

! s8 F& m& h4 U9 Q2 Z"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.

"I'll airline," said.

"I'll I'm over. I haven't I here. She'll me. She'll she's bathroom." Maya. "Do come? She'd you."
! }' O& |1 Z1 g2 O/ }  s7 X
"I I'm here. on." her. a look.
+ D. W. W) x) y) u! W& X
"The Rams?"
) z1 J0 w! l* M+ w
8 r  X/ Z! {" ~! X: W"Yes."
& U, z1 Z5 o  D0 k' x% g
: U/ h! I- ^" {3 G! w+ d$ z"You're football."
) B! D7 p. Z5 t- B! X/ H0 p
"I football."
0 Q4 [; E  P# W
"I years. I football."
# g3 Z) `6 s8 |* U
"I alone. That's you've it." her. knew. didn't knew, something. she'd Dan, floor, couldn't wearing.
+ v5 x6 I% j9 P% F+ x8 p9 b
"Okay," said. "The Rams. Alone. a Hartwell."
4 F  e9 b0 K5 |3 S4 n
* B7 j' D1 T  j; H5 V- k0 ^3 U0 V6 ]) n% R"Enjoy mother's bathroom." keys. door.

, H) S! o  c" ?- t( r"Do anything?"
. F1 w; D" m" {9 A) x
% V* t( v0 F3 s: N: A4 o5 I1 m' D"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 A# c0 I' L* \! Z# ~' ]A a coffee. A check. over. counter. rang. her. didn't hide. Surprise. else.
8 ^5 h" ?5 i) G4 n* z3 A
"I today," said.
6 v3 V0 z. }* l
9 x" f  u1 _( ^"So I. nights." her.
1 N/ H# r' \7 ^$ e' Y9 W, w
"The there's can't a Sunday." Monday." didn't surprised. "That right."

"You're shocked."

. J8 c+ t1 |$ H% {! Q"I've life. me." counter. "So, I'm day. I you'd Oscar." her. shirt. jeans. boots. A a pig.

3 B" @# ~/ e. U! I0 q) g7 ^/ {* F4 t"We minutes," said. again. "I know. I'm slot."
9 v- \2 [* Q& ?+ a8 y! ]$ M
"Can I help?" said. she'd didn't expect. a towel.
7 Q: \& C; }1 s
, ^& }" @: ]0 m$ V' U$ W$ j1 ?+ _1 Y8 ~"Saltshakers filling. There's a back." work. diner, caps, shakers, each, one.
: f: C  X1 @3 P
& B! M4 u2 I; IA diner, helpful. quiet. her. Maya.

"I've saltshakers," said. Maya, booths, she'd Iron. didn't left. Closed. routine. up. out. wiped. saltshakers. She'd both. pepper. it.

"You've before," said, counter.
$ a, x7 t/ Y& S) M( x7 ]
. z5 J! u' B3 z. [3 k4 p' m"I college. months."

"What happened?"

"I quit. That's worked. a job, a opportunity, didn't happen, too."
+ g6 }/ I& J" C4 p( s$ O  k; m
" c4 X! |! r. V8 G- Z1 \8 u"How jobs?"

% |4 A1 K9 {! v# z0 X# {. N# o) I"I counting." table. him. gone. locked. a a afternoon.
8 _# w' N& H; D" ~
"So," said. "Oscar?" them. truck. seatbelt. it. windshield. lot. everything. they'd Friday. them. there, intentional, way.

0 H# L: {3 Z$ }; S2 D. v0 `& S* p"I something," said.
$ l+ ^7 e% r. E' Q) F; r) A
"Okay."
( o( O* K' Q* F. c' s" U" l* |
! c8 {' F7 a9 j: y5 Z"I'm pig." her. "Most don't loud."

7 K! ^% s4 w2 I) n  h( _"I'm loud. I've yesterday. A a farm. I him."

"He's you. He's a pig."

"He's a pig. he's boss."

+ H( v. Q) M; i"He he's boss."

( S. j5 x3 a2 ~' u* t"That's thing." a minutes. away, up. Fences. Fields. A standing.

"I a once," said. her.
& k9 |: Z- u# z, z/ p  L7 h
: I, N  _8 T" Q; s7 p"I extra. I a a hours."

8 E/ f( N6 s8 [( {* I+ U% `; b"Twelve hours?"
) Q6 `$ J6 N6 W  V. n
/ i$ p2 V, A  K0 v  ~+ n: `"For dollars. I credits." movie.

6 o" \8 b, W1 ]7 l2 ]"Was a movie?"
* B! A; g' s' j, D) N8 _
, I* e" S' ~1 f3 y* S/ ^! z"I idea. I've it."
4 D- q' _7 b0 g9 A( M, _& [) \! Q
"Why not?"
  t( n8 q3 \1 I2 \  H
"I wasn't premiere." paused. "Obviously. I didn't a background."

8 ^# R: e& y0 Z) D& S"Who it?" names.
; \1 p* O  @5 U; Z2 Y4 \- w( s
"Did them?"

4 C  c- L3 q( y# t7 I3 |"I a restaurant. a set. I I've with."
, _$ o; I8 T4 R
/ O0 l9 |2 `$ t1 Y# y8 m"I've it. Brooke." her.

0 ^6 m7 O  u/ y! q+ r0 W+ 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.

- A$ O* \% T/ b5 ?# j"I didn't "

"You candlelight."

"That's I thought."

. `: y) {! a% b0 t# s4 t. t"It's a thought."

"I'm sorry," said.

0 l% y' N9 Z; C& \$ P. A& M"Don't sorry. I it. assumptions."
0 n1 q0 K% w. H* z7 R" L7 L
"I won't again."
2 W! U% U/ x, b% {, ?
"You will. that's okay."

/ Z3 [& K4 u7 R; ?4 W) S. \"You sometime. I'm together," said.
! W! |, ?6 e2 T
"Will tonight? I'll supper."

% w0 {  m0 F2 p  ["I don't I it."
) U! Q6 I0 N+ T$ [
"Why not?"
$ C, S* O- Q' T/ w' o- J$ O
7 T3 K) y( e( n2 h, T/ E"What I'm terrible?"
1 I: l+ ?% \0 w' k) l
"I eat. weren't terrible." window. a a toast, turkeys, a Gerald, a in. a film.
( P4 m- g5 p: P4 ]; B( G8 Q
4 J4 j; b: o4 }' R  [/ e+ A"Okay," said. gravel. A it, a number. in.
( s% h. S2 |4 W* i- I; P
# T  J0 ^- w6 n/ P5 _8 `" Ktrees. house. A front. step. house, it. Barking. Loud, barking. here, I know.
# O. e3 C: p7 P
"You a dog," said. "You a dog."
: C! w  x: A. ~& d/ l( U
1 i* K5 R, E$ U0 k6 B"There a animals. I can't them."
" W) P% A+ l, z2 f
A speed. it. up. everywhere. look. Slowly, house, a Oscar. out. him, circled, Maya's door, air, spun, Rick.
( O4 ~) M; B6 i8 r7 q/ T
- o9 i0 R6 L& o7 E"That's Bud," said.
5 i+ E1 w0 D0 O
"His Bud?"
$ j$ V0 q" t) q* _' D& ?' A1 {  A
"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.

"He's I don't what's land," said. him.

( n9 q+ Q0 F+ T) o& w7 T"Some oil, gas, ground. wouldn't truck. I window. minutes, left."
- B8 B/ o- m3 U8 a) [& r
"You didn't off?"
7 ?  `! Y' z5 L1 |7 Q& I
"I Bud."
# A8 d+ T% j. V/ m& [+ a2 w3 j
) y5 u5 V6 ~" N"You aren't money?" a second. "They a back. rights. Omaha."
- P5 ?5 t8 |, a! K4 d
"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.

3 ~! c6 l& L9 W7 @: q  y8 b"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.
6 T& b  I9 X6 l- }  M9 v
1 G/ t( Q6 C$ Z/ h7 T" d+ V5 Q1 Y"He's perfect," said.

"He's a pig."
3 k3 m" I6 G2 X# s7 q/ G% 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.

/ C3 o% R( t: G5 Q# t; v"You this, didn't you?" said.
! Y/ L4 L+ ]6 s+ j( @
! _! G5 |' @4 j8 M# i8 t"Most it. longest. I twice."

"Twice?"
* Z, i9 Y4 u9 R  }5 }
9 c- ?: g3 L" k& n+ n"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.
% i, R) x& c, T* Z& M3 o8 A
"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.

"That's Felicia," said. her. Maya's purred. floor, she'd invited.
; W" F# E! h. P  {1 u( h; a3 e
- W' C. A7 H  j0 j9 d; x  q"She doesn't that," said. watching.

5 ]1 w* z/ C# ^; f- a) Y  \0 t"Do what?"

"Any it. legs. lap. purring. me. t" stopped. "She doesn't people."
3 }0 c% v2 H: z; r3 Q0 d& j
- n2 H2 Y0 g0 k" t"She warm."

"She didn't here."
  M. o( [- [  m$ D
8 \# i& t4 [+ e7 F"Someone cat?"
- v3 k7 z" |7 S8 {
2 h8 R* W4 o% |% @9 r  H"She moved. wasn't plan."
$ f4 _# Z, [+ J; D0 j' t: i  d
"Who doesn't cat?" didn't that.
# q% U5 l  v4 t1 B5 x! }9 q( W% v
"Why her?" asked. "You doesn't you."
2 t7 {( d9 i2 y9 S6 G9 l
"She me. That's different."
9 I0 A7 P% l8 D8 [7 [
"That's answer."
  I7 a, Q% C& v4 M. V  d! J6 ~5 N9 R
2 x/ c6 U6 d, a% B"She here. didn't go. I wasn't a didn't lap." Felicia, a for.

"So a wouldn't day."

"She day. doesn't this."
, g0 `8 a& d$ O9 l1 a) C$ v
"I taste," said. Rick, up. off.

"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.
1 ^" i+ e+ T: k9 T# F; F2 j
7 Y& F: F4 W. \( ]A grass. air. Rick's it. open. field, went. chase.
: U) O( m/ ^6 f" Q( R. w" Q2 d  N
"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.

* K3 o) w7 I, E3 _"Oscar first," said. "Always."
6 [- u# e! U3 ~; K% _% P  x
6 _/ u2 ?. J8 t! K( }: X! D3 N"What he's first?"
" ^1 I1 w* i* ]7 Y, P/ I4 ]# F
"I once. wouldn't move. I couldn't else. a minutes."
: x4 H1 e- F. c- x
"You a a pig."
) A9 V# F6 c6 L! A# }
"I pig. I trying."

"Can I help?" said.
' S% R; X# G/ k2 D. [
* n- Y. n$ t' k% F0 b' o"Sure, goats. I'll chickens." gathered. a be. trough, weeks, round.
! w8 y- N# u) b. l1 Y' ?& Z
"Hey," them, voice. voice. ago. "Hey there, sweetie. you." her. time. better. a jacket. down. a a jacket.
# q3 B, z5 x! y7 }) {
"Hey, no. That's mine." harder. back. leaned.

"Rick!" barn. hadn't help. smiling.

4 E; H6 H$ }' j% g; N  m"Rick, jacket."
$ z8 G& G- u: ]. F( D: N2 l
; r" G% T; l1 w" z"She that."

"She's *eating* it."
7 ]: I9 g9 D* K+ W( f7 ]  }
"She's it. She'll go."
* h8 V. L1 {4 D
& Y, M  T. C7 E0 W5 E"When?"
5 T& F! f  z; U. g, Z
"When she's done." goat. Maya. go.
: i; s; d: h/ F2 r$ u4 f
. v1 T' @7 L' P3 l"This jacket," goat. "I it's useless. it's mine, I stop." go. a step. chewed. it.
6 g, o1 u3 \0 \
"She you," said.

" y+ ]3 S. f$ J+ W"She clothes."

" K5 b0 q1 B( x. y"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.
9 A' f0 X+ g% Y  n! a
"Getting cold," said.
: K: q  k3 m6 T) T, }- G1 D# V+ F
" _  i" ]. s9 E; d' J2 b4 G"It's cold. I've it."

1 r& q, o) j6 z1 k- e9 e& P; N"You inside?"

$ ~7 I9 d# v2 [" r"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.

"Have those?" said.

"Most them. I've twice."
$ z8 Z9 r' [  m- o2 z7 a
"What like?" time. "History, mostly. I are."

6 B1 `1 O# G, ?+ U8 q8 l& q"What else?"

2 ~! K) O. \) s  Q0 |"Steinbeck. that. I've *East Eden* times." him. She'd *East Eden*. She'd a wasn't it.
' T$ e1 k& l# w4 ]: K
  H: `- y! t! n) [9 ]. N  ]( M% i0 ]8 h"I book," said.
) H, U( [* X) K8 e* e# E% |% V
"You've it?"

"Twice. I times, I wouldn't up."

$ q5 Z: C8 R# |"It up."
3 f* g! X' z. b' y/ ?5 R
: c2 E  f0 u+ J! c3 Y, `"You're sure?"

"Third one." again. "What's one?" a didn't others. Thinner, cover, hardcovers. pointing. face.
% a, ?, M7 t* ~9 _. o9 l7 C# j3 _0 ^
0 p8 o# `0 a$ W5 u3 g! x"That's nothing."
: d, W7 l/ r* [6 B% ]3 |$ D/ u
8 z& c- D( v% Z6 I6 E: N"It's something. It's shelf."

3 V+ T6 N, y" O) G% ^  V"It's a novel. A diner. I don't shelf."

"You a novel."

# F' E6 k8 `  I; S# F% W5 R"I didn't I it."
. U" {8 G  T; z7 W6 O  _
* R8 v. z. B5 p3 j+ s1 f6 K"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?"
! Y  L* n* k2 I) Z) k  c4 z
"I don't know. anything."
8 Y* W, \& J9 X" i& T
"Do do?" version. everyone. *It's **a great** company, I'm a lot, it's **a foot** door.*

"I a shop," said. "He nice. good." her.
( [, L; {' j& y. K: U" |
"That's I asked," said.

"I know." waited. didn't push. didn't rephrase. he'd it. hallway. lap.

( R- `) h' h  X- R- W8 B4 Y( W"No," said. "I don't it. I phones. I things. I don't name. farm." it, room, everything.

. a$ q: s" f+ R+ z' M' X9 I"An minutes," said. "Each way. traffic, hours. I a a I don't be."
3 C1 F4 X0 s/ h! ]
% s) n0 ]% z9 Q" ^5 B: |' s7 y4 B"That's a hours."
& y: m1 }$ E/ ~( k
"It's a hours." thing. she'd a a worked, a sun, today.
( P) S4 S- y8 R: i) C9 o
, m& T3 k3 f4 h! E& \"I'm supper," said. chair. "It'll a while. I right."

8 g4 v, H% N1 c* h4 G"Can I you?"

& y+ y" h  i' m"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.
) d( ?- j1 v" [; m1 l1 c  W
+ f, u( L( `. I4 i6 x"Frank Sinatra," said.

# ^1 h7 T; R/ f) S% f0 N"He mom's favorite. I've known. I I cook." simply. A a mother's cooked. refrigerator.

"Can I help?" a minute.
% I; B1 J3 J  S. G& j' n2 I
"Can salad?" her. it, up, counter. twisted, clean. leaves. her.

"What?" said.

- {- u2 w" I& B  `: [# X- e8 B"How that?"

"Do what?"
0 `& F5 d# C- I9 H2 H5 |" ]
: D  ?' u  O& j, \; g. ]- e9 y7 N" "
2 D& \6 D) J" e4 C
"That's a lettuce."

"I've a life." lettuce, her, lettuce, she'd a a vegetable.
5 p- K- L' S3 v2 P3 `/ i
2 @3 ^  w  e# I# w5 P"What don't I know?" said. leaves. moon, them.
3 R1 ^! _5 N; v
8 Z/ w3 Z* g3 v# \) RHe'd a wine. he'd a while. didn't from. him. himself. didn't spill. cat, down, a a inch.

8 R& i% t! V8 L3 o5 J" m  z"Close," said.
* p& m7 Z9 V; {* |0 U. s9 S0 ^& B# |
; `# A. b0 x4 U) D"She that. it."

"She I'm a woman."

her. "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.
0 R" t5 \- Y) J7 b& o
+ Q1 ^' n. _# p, T, `"This vegan, way," said. "I times, I " down. "I'm vegan."
) g% z. i4 E, t! N0 c
+ v$ X  e/ l+ X' d"You're not."
8 ?# S3 m$ E5 Q' N8 b5 ]2 S
"I'm either. incredible, I meal."

"Then salads?" plate. "The time, diner, I didn't food."
' w/ C, i" c, _; E. R1 J
"You didn't food."

+ k! ]+ o7 D3 f"I didn't food. I a Nebraska, a safe."
8 f6 m4 ~1 j6 g$ f& F$ Y
# O2 ^% [/ z0 v+ M"And night?" up. "Last a thing. I dates. I don't why. I do." she'd a date. didn't need.
6 p8 G# J2 x' B/ ?
  W1 ?9 s+ I8 Y& m"This good, Rick. I it. menu."
1 M  s, o% f! X3 X2 B6 ]
. g& ]: l3 `4 c4 {( i6 m4 W$ Q: n"The menu."
8 b8 l3 Q1 u' H" s  g* m. m* N+ z
"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.

6 L4 ~- l. e: y8 V"Ready?" said.
( O( c7 X  Z9 p1 q' B
"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.
3 E3 c( L6 F1 i  t
"What doing?" said.
: p8 y! w; e/ b; }; w
"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.
( N$ l- F. q: e
"What don't me?"

7 r1 |' g' t% w5 }( _! t"They're I do." her. out. behind, sweatshirt. door, rang. in. him. stopped.
0 H* N- F* }- b1 w
! U; A+ q& d* _- K& R"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.

: s9 Z& d% G; Y6 X: }"Rick him! I yes. I'm staying!" hand. a ring. Simple. new.

"It mother's," said. "It perfectly." applause. ring. Maya. Rick, booth, a rest. mouth. out. it. again.

) ]! I; m: n# t"You've days," said.
. F8 M5 J% H+ _* W" ^+ A8 K$ ~' ^+ O( E
; a+ D) D$ t) h+ X2 Z- Q"I know."
; C, ^6 n  k" y  j
"Three days, Maya."
8 E; n0 E) q7 D# N
"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?"

; s- y' b: r7 s* U# S"No," Brooke.
2 e6 k, W! x) D- s- Y/ x2 c; `
- C  T( A9 ~4 h+ M- k8 l& l. \"You LA, I didn't. didn't fit." a second. Maya's table.
; v: S/ ]) S" j! ^. @. m
' f) q/ F: ?3 ]' s  A8 {. c7 o"With Maya, a place. I I couldn't again. I now, I I chance." eyes. watched. happy.

  l0 B8 ^: w2 ^$ a. d$ }A this.
6 R8 U4 d; L7 t. i
# c. C6 z) h) f  }0 t8 A* h) }: D  V"So, Said.

"How go? a hills"

1 P* R: }- ^6 L2 m0 B( Q"Oh, top!"

1 B( c  m5 M3 b1 s2 u- L"There a room. I knew, I didn't. land. a account. a house."

2 o+ d+ S% F1 F4 o"The me."
2 R% l" e% X" S" ~" K
"To Brooke, I collection. I a a child, I memories." table. them, off, Rick.
: T1 C7 i/ [# L& i* t3 e- G
5 |  {# `! _4 j1 x* |3 P"This," said. "This I got." it. butterflies. labeled. dead.

"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.

3 e; R# p$ L# S) J  p"Don't," said.

+ V  H& E& o( I( \0 u5 H"I'm not," said.
9 X3 x, h8 G" K8 @. O) X3 G
"You're to."

) l  G5 q$ B4 f2 R1 `9 J"I'm anything."
" B/ G, |9 G; |4 ?$ c
"Rick, she's butterflies," Brooke.
& S' m: `' k3 E5 b
+ X  u. K0 G- m$ L5 ?6 b"These butterflies, Brooke," said, a steady. "Uncle a this."
9 K! A! \( \( s; m8 Q
" p- w$ B; v6 P7 }"He glass."
1 E0 @* n0 s( [
"With labels. them. That's dedication."
% {( t1 j7 h( S" y# D( w: c0 l
"I you." broke. couldn't it. from, hands. watched, her.
$ P" \( Z# \/ v7 w
' O6 S+ i7 B4 C' j$ q"Maya, can't stay. a least. a coverage. you. I there's Hanks. he'll office." paused. "You I can't alone." was. it.

- N# B4 |1 Z0 P- K% j: q"We it. I up. months. about."
& \' K5 v( W: @% D
"You've hours, you're rent."

$ b5 i# W1 Y9 ^# ~% [/ V( E"We weren't hanging, Brooke."
. O' s+ X$ }: |5 w2 |8 ]' ]6 m
, K7 N3 b  I$ D. o  Z"And job?"

"They'll it." didn't that. couldn't.

"I here," said. "Yesterday mine.
& ~! `& v$ w* v* ?3 U- T5 f8 B
( {/ m1 v2 V' H( \"Pointing butterflies, "I can't plane," said,
- y* t/ L* R1 R
"What?"

"I can't a security. thing. They'll it' I don't they'll is. I it's I'm a insects."

9 v; }/ a* {' g; q/ V) }"So them?"

1 f) }! c% R# Y8 i& [$ \7 S"I'm you."
# m$ p: Q  t6 \% M2 m& C9 K5 b+ M. a  i
"No."
+ q! G" I: h2 B# M
"Consider a gift."
5 |- _# o" v' H! ]3 p( x0 Y! q2 e# H
"Brooke."
) K2 [/ n' H2 t2 C6 f# X
, T4 g, i: N# ^6 {"You're friend. You're roommate. I can't alone. butterflies." Rick. Maya. all, glass, useless, place.

. b5 P' M. ~5 N1 q6 @0 r"Fine," said. "We'll them."
1 e6 b: u, x: ]: i
! P  o( ^* `, r; _; q"Thank you."

"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.
' \+ f+ i$ j; S7 M4 k, t. G
"Those there," said.

) W. ?5 {' |( f* Q3 a! i: Z"They do," said. didn't anything. butterflies, been, a a she'd behind, a she'd a she'd to.

+ D7 W3 b4 T, x1 R( O4 o"They perfect," said. phone.
. d* _& V: R4 \5 ^6 D
"I I plane."
! H3 L5 i& }$ y- Z+ |. O
"I suitcase." rental, ground. go. Brooke's arms. "I wedding. I happens." her. "You're Nebraska."
( g! h) H( u- S6 K' x9 u
"I'm honor." didn't anything. on.
, L* F% V' V3 {; W; M& ^5 g
3 W; y: x' `8 G! m' c"You I clothes."
8 L& L1 z8 t# a! b9 ?" `& s
( M, N* K7 F1 y0 o. f: p' r"I it." again"I school,"
5 u* X, {' A4 t1 P# h2 f
5 i1 O1 f5 q+ c. M7 \; a* eMaya'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.
4 e" S3 ~  m4 @* E. a