❦

Nina is still threatened
by Li Wen,

I explain to Tammie.

(A noncommittal response.)

She rubs

her forehead

against
my shoulder.

I pull away.

She yelled at everyone today,
except Li Wen.

Silence.

I fall

into the depths
of Tammie's

grey eyes.

They're hollow one moment,

they're full of light
the next,

they're making me

forget

what

I'm

trying

to...

Tammie locks our fingers
and throws the blanket

over my head

so we're
shrouded in

warm

sour

darkness.

There's something wet
stroking my cheek.

It's uncomfortable (at first).

Then, rhythmic.

Lulling.

My complaint
dies

at the back

of my throat.

When I wake up,

Tammie is gone.

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