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           Alreadythepainofparting;justbecausehehadleftthebed;shelaywatchinghimashewalkedtotheslidingdoorsgivingontothebeach,steppedoutsideandpaused.Heturned,heldouthishand."Comewithme?Wecangetbreakfasttogether."

           Thetidewasin,thereefcovered,theearlysunhotbuttherestlesssummerwindcool;coarsegrasssentfeelersdownontothecrumbling,unsandlikesand,wherecrabsandinsectsscuttledafterpickings.

           "IfeelasifI’veneverseentheworldbefore,"hesaid,staring.

           Meggieclutchedathishand;shefeltvisited,andfoundthissunnyaftermathmoreincomprehensiblethanthenight’sdreamyreality.Hereyesrestedonhim,aching.Itwastimeoutofmind,adifferentworld.

           Soshesaid,"Notthisworld.Howcouldyou?Thisisourworld,foraslongasitlasts."

           "What’sLukelike?"heasked,overbreakfast.

           Sheputherheadononeside,considering."NotasmuchlikeyouphysicallyasIusedtothink,becauseinthosedaysImissedyoumore,Ihadn’tgotusedtodoingwithoutyou.IbelieveImarriedhimbecauseheremindedmeofyou.Atanyrate,Ihadmadeupmymindtomarrysomeone,andhestoodheadandshouldersabovetherest.Idon’tmeaninworthiness,orniceness,oranyofthethingswomenaresupposedtofinddesirableinahusband.JustinsomewayIcan’tputafingeron.Exceptperhapsthatheislikeyou.Hedoesn’tneedwomen,either."

           Hisfacetwisted."Isthathowyouseeme,Meggie?"

           "Truthfully?Ithinkso.I’llneverunderstandwhy,butIthinkso.