Американские боги

           "AndIneededsomeonetotalkto.Ineededashouldertocryon.Youweren’tthere.Iwasupset."

           "I’msorry."Shadowrealizedsomethingwasdifferentabouthervoice,andhetriedtofigureoutwhatitwas.

           "Iknow.Sowe’dmeetforcoffee.Talkaboutwhatwe’ddowhenyougotoutofprison.Howgooditwouldbetoseeyouagain.Hereallylikedyou,youknow.Hewaslookingforwardtogivingyoubackyouroldjob."

           "Yes."

           "AndthenAudreywenttovisithersisterforaweek.Thiswas,oh,ayear,thirteenmonthsafteryou’dgoneaway."Hervoicelackedexpression;eachwordwasflatanddull,likepebblesdropped,onebyone,intoadeepwell."Robbiecameover.Wegotdrunktogether.Wediditonthefloorofthebedroom.Itwasgood.Itwasreallygood."

           "Ididn’tneedtohearthat."

           "No?I’msorry.It’shardertopickandchoosewhenyou’redead.It’slikeaphotograph,youknow.Itdoesn’tmatterasmuch."

           "Itmatterstome."

           Lauralitanothercigarette.Hermovementswerefluidandcompetent,notstiff.Shadowwondered,foramoment,ifshewasdeadatall.Perhapsthiswassomekindofelaboratetrick."Yes,"shesaid."Iseethat.Well,wecarriedonouraffair-althoughwedidn’tcallitthat,wedidnotcallitanything-formostofthelasttwoyears."

           "Wereyougoingtoleavemeforhim?"

           "WhywouldIdothat?You’remybigbear.You’remypuppy.Youdidwhatyoudidforme.Iwaitedthreeyearsforyoutocomebacktome.Iloveyou."

           HestoppedhimselffromsayingIloveyou,too.Hewasn’tgoingtosaythat.Notanymore.