lowly back t

as gone. The room was d

t turn o

he bed, to m

ched my face.

spered. "It's

lay down beside me, curling

rying to

so fierce it was a physica

, I'm so sor

I was already g

just deeply asl

me, his voice

ut his run to

Mama didn't

e Julian

o brave,

hunger gnawed

was no one els

Eleanor had dismissed week

find hel

d off

pa," he said to my bod

e front door.

l to reach the

hen, dragged a chai

ed to un

k. The gate to the alley w

t into the co

him, a desperate,

going? Who

denly cut through the

slowly to

yes wide. Hope fli

aw him. Maybe t

roze. I kne

s. A sleek, da

s he do

im. Anyone

dread wash

ped a few fe

behind the

t the car lurch forward sudde

ling backward, his e

got out of the car, a pr

eo. Out for a

did I frighten you? So sorry. Th

nd down, his eyes

. Sa

him, wanting to

ssed through him,

hed down to

ut here, little man?

was sick

ant to help h

atan

ing, "you have to do something for me. To

him, confuse

ha

ian, right? A street per

tone wa

little. Like your papa us

iliate Leo. To d

s a burnin

d at him, his

don't kn

urred. "Sing something. Anythi

He loved me. He w

llowed

rembling, as he began

winkle, lit

ed, a harsh,

dance, boy! E

eyes, tried to move, a clu

d to perform

ng for a minute,

ike your father's

p, looming

ather is a no-good, cheating louse. Tell me

eyes f

risingly strong. "Papa is good

hed. His face twiste

ittle

he front of his shi

lth! A leech! And y

eo, hard, ac

a sharp sound o

low sent him spraw

ked him in

ith lies about me, did

her

into a ba

le whelp! I'll teach you what hap

hatred, all his jealo

Julian, screaming,

ing. Just a witness

earable. It was

se, God, ma