Американские боги

           ButsometimesI’dgointoaroomandIwouldn’tthinktherewasanybodyinthere.AndI’dturnthelighton,orI’dturnthelightoff,andI’drealizethatyouwereinthere,sittingonyourown,notreading,notwatchingTV,notdoinganything."

           Shehuggedhimthen,asiftotakethestingfromherwords,andshesaid,"ThebestthingaboutRobbiewasthathewassomebody.Hewasajerksometimes,andhecouldbeajoke,andhelovedtohavemirrorsaroundwhenwemadelovesohecouldwatchhimselffuckingme,buthewasalive,puppy.Hewantedthings.Hefilledthespace."Shestopped,lookedupathim,tippedherheadalittletooneside."I’msorry.DidIhurtyourfeelings?"

           Hedidnottrusthisvoicenottobetrayhim,sohesimplyshookhishead.

           "Good,"shesaid."That’sgood."

           Theywereapproachingtherestareawherehehadparkedhiscar.Shadowfeltthatheneededtosaysomething:Iloveyou,orpleasedon’tgo,orI’msorry.Thekindofwordsyouusetopatchaconversationthathadlurched,withoutwarning,intothedarkplaces.Insteadhesaid,"I’mnotdead."

           "Maybenot,"shesaid."Butareyousureyou’realive?"

           "Lookatme,"hesaid.

           "That’snotananswer,"saidhisdeadwife."You’llknowit,whenyouare."

           "Whatnow?"hesaid.

           "Well,"shesaid,"I’veseenyounow.I’mgoingsouthagain.