't sleep t

und that was still ringing in her ears, as if it were, a judge delivering a verdict. Her sto

came t

he kitchen table staring at a cup

," he sa

. She sat up in a jerk and g

rehead in the same way as he did

little,"

d sat opposite her. "Yo

fast as she wrapped her fingers

rowned.

elf. This was it. She was forced to speak som

," she said. "Scho

ed his head

am papers, tests, piles and pile

ed the guilt

a moment that she would choke at the lie. She star

s was

does not normally cause one to look

usly. "Well, I gu

true," he

. "Maybe I'm

chair. You see, you can

hest

softly. "But real

. He simply stared at her, his fac

d at length. "

aid, but her

n, looked back. In case the stress becomes ac

d fast. "

her

burden of his worry remained. When he had

. To him, to herself,

a breath of relief when

Patricia tap,

ake," Patr

h, M

tea that had not been d

not h

ia said. You no longer th

stif

cia picked up her pho

t skipped.

didn't look at he

orld

ickly it sounded as though her

d and without expression. He has a righ

a shook. "You

ia said. Responsibility is

mbled. "You did

ng to ask. "You're pregnant. He's t

nable to breathe. "

narrowed. "What

quickly. I only,

too late," Patricia replied.

ach droppe

ea

nicked. "I'm not ready. I have

of before, Patricia said. I will not allow

ask you to,

hardened. "Low

Her heart beat was

oming?" Ava

replied. "And you'll be pol

er giving her phone back to her. She s

d there,

a

self, and now here she had to enc

buzzed i

down at t

ess

r tells us that

eath c

lost in the tea

at the message as though it would fade

umbling something h

not her

oon to becom