talkingtodeadpeopleandrying.andbydeadpeopleimeanspeifiallyme,”draostartedslowly.“andhowhemissesme.”

mgonagallopenedhermouthtospeakandthenlosedit,lookingratherlikeafish.

“i’vealreadybroughtsomuhpainintohislife,”draoontinued,“thatiwasneverabletoamend.ithinkitwillruinmetoseehimsotornuplikethiswheniouldsoeasilyfixit,ifonlythingswerealittlebitdifferent.ithinkianonlyholdupforsolongbeforeiruineverything.it’salreadyalmostmorethanianbear.”

mgonagallwassilentforamomentthatstrethedonforwhatfeltlikeeternity.itwasthelosestdraohadeverbeentoadmittingeverythingoutloud.

“youneverhatedhim,didyou?”sheaskedgently.

draosmiledbakatherweakly.

“no,isupposeyoudidn’t.isupposethatwasanotherattopleaseyourfather.”

“isupposeitwas.”

heouldn’tlookather.hedidn’twanttoseethesorrylookonherfae.

finallyshesaid,“letmefigureoutwhatiando.we’llmeetthesametimetomorrow.”

draonodded.

whensheleft,helookedaroundathisroom,feelingabitofmenholysinkintohisstomah.herekonedtheywouldn’tbehisroomsformuhlonger.notifhegothisway.

chapter6