ughed.“forbreakfast”

“yes,”hegrinned,“ialydarliohaveit.butnoore.”hesledbravely.

“theniindifihis”sheasked,puttinghisdressinggownon.

“dear,you.

“itsllsofyou,”shesaid,sniffingit.“ievergoingtotakeitoff.ok,illbebaanute,”andheheardherragdohestairsandclatteringaroundi.

latelyhehadnotieshelefthisside,itfortoolongonhisoeant.badne.hehadfinishedhisradiationtherapy,or.ithadfailed,andnoostoftheti.itjustseedsopoiohiehioaginehislife.hefeltangry,sad,jealousandsadetoeachother,andheorhadretued,andit.heedtoreatohisheadandtearoutthediseasethatroyinghislife,butthatahinghehadnontrolover.

heandhollyhadbeeevenher.heoing,andtheyfoundtheelvesgigglingjustlikeheyeenagers.butthatheirgooddays.

theyhadtheirbaddays,too.

heto“givehisbodyapositiveenvironntsocially,etionally,nutritionallyandspiritually.”

andhisnebusyandkinghieellikeheulddosothingotherthanlieonabedallday.hisndappedouthisplantoreinisehehaddetoheryearsago.atleastthereeithadtobethisparticularprose.

heheardhollythuddingupthestairsandhesled;hisplanwasw.

“babe,theresnoreireaeft,”shesaidsadly.“isthereanythingelseyouwouldprefer”

“nope,”heshookhishead.“justtheireaplease.”

“oh,butnoplained.

“dontinutes,”heassuredher.

shelookedathiainly.“ireallyherstay,theresnooneelsehere.”

“dontbesilly,”hesled,aedhisbileoffthebedsidetableandpla,herebe,illcallyou.”

“ok.”hollybitherlip.“illonlybefivenutesdoheroad.areyousureyoullbeok”

“positive,”hesled.

“okthen.”shesloent.

“holly,illbefine,”hesaidfiry.

“ok.”shegavehilongkissandheheardherracedohestairs,rushouttothedspeedoffdoheroad.

assoonasgerrykofbed.hesatontheedgeofthettressforaadehisthetopshelfthatntainedjunkhehadlleovedhielffooaginedhollytobeakaraokegenius,relaxedfroerholidayinspain,bruisefreeasaresultofthebedsidelaandhopefullyhappyisheloved.

heigihisverydayinoipossiblysittingonthebedrightenttothelist,ahoughtlongandhardaboutaock,hiseyesandsloadehisattress.

“hello”hesaid,tryingtontrolhisvoidhesledhesestvoitheotherend.“iloveyoutoo,holly...”

fortyeight

“nodahisisntright,”hollysaid,upset,andpulledherhandahisgrip.

“butitright”hepleadedhherhhistwinklingblueeyes.

“itstoosoon,”shesaid,rubbingherfaedtogetworseandworse.

“toosoonbecausethatspeoplehavebeentellingyou,ortoosoonbecausethatsyourheartstellingyou”

“ohdaniel,idontknosonfused.pleasestopaskingsoions”

herheartbeatrriedilovegerry”shesaidinapanic.

“gerry”heasked,hiseyespetinghere.iotsayingthatiuldevertakehisplace,butatleastgiveusacetobetogether.”

shetooktheenvelopefroishandandhuggeditclosetoherhear

...