1.

he walked away and didn't come back. that's how it was. if i'm going to be completely honest, i have no better story to tell. it was twilight. it was december and bitterly cold. my stomach ached with it, that kind of loss for which i have no other than pain. for days after, i looked out the picture window. I made up all kinds of scenarios to address what i didn't know. i knew nothing. i knew he had been here and now was gone. i knew i'd done nothing to help him, nothing to stop his going. and now i was afraid.