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And your goodbye, that keeps me listening for your voice around each corner...

Copeland, She Changes Your Mind

So she painted and she drew.

And she talked a lot to friends about independence and "being on her own" for the first time in her life.

And part of her meant it.

Part of her needed those things.

The school, the art, the friends... the time.

The other part of her was pretty much useless.

What with being consumed on a daily basis with the idea of driving to Stamford.

Or just picking up the damn phone.

He had to know she was alone, free, now.

So why hadn't he...

Because she had to...

To miss, to long... to take a step.

To hurt.