lroom entrance, the sounds o

knew, the woman who clipped coupons and w

hing but eat and sleep, of telling Alex we couldn't afford

of hope and excitement about MIT, flashing in my mind. He worked so hard, not just a

t he was

wound, and now, this betr

ica and Ethan, walking away from

lf further int

," Ethan was saying, his voice smoo

nd Michael and Alex... well, they've benefited from my love all these years

nded? Or kep

was out on a delivery scooter trying to ease a f

was cold, not hot. It

hotel, back into the nigh

ify Alex' s body. The sight of him, so still and p

ked out a simple casket, a quiet plot in t

n, once, leaving a message wit

things. His books, his awards, a half-finished projec

He' d read parts of it to me. Full of hope for the future,

word tasted like