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           ButshecouldnotallowthiswithhisfaceovershadowedbyDane’s.Itwasrighttodismisshim,righttobattletoobliterateeverylastflickerofdesireforhim.Andastimewentonanditseemedhewasgoingtostayoutofherlifepermanently,herbodysettledintounarousedtorpor,andherminddisciplineditselftoforget.

           ButnowRainwasbackitwasgrowingmuchharder.Sheitchedtoaskhimwhetherherememberedthatotherrelationship—howcouldhehaveforgottenit?Certainlyforherselfshehadquitefinishedwithsuchthings,butitwouldhavebeengratifyingtolearnhehadn’t;thatis,providedofcoursesuchthingsforhimspelledJustine,andonlyJustine.

           Pipedreams.Raindidn’thavethemienofamanwhowaswastingawayofunrequitedlove,mentalorphysical,andheneverdisplayedtheslightestwishtoreopenthatphaseoftheirlives.Hewantedherforafriend,enjoyedherasafriend.Excellent!Itwaswhatshewanted,too.Only…couldhehaveforgotten?No,itwasn’tpossible—butGoddamnhimifhehad!

           ThenightJustine’sthoughtprocessesreachedsofar,herseason’sroleofLadyMacbethhadaninterestingsavageryquitealientoherusualinterpretation.Shedidn’tsleepverywellafterward,andthefollowingmorningbroughtaletterfromhermotherwhichfilledherwithvagueunease.

           Mumdidn’twriteoftenanymore,asymptomofthelongseparationwhichaffectedthemboth,andwhatletterstherewerewerestilted,anemic.