shi0906pei

@@@@@ Then he rolled toward me, his eyes closed, his hands reachingHe curled into my side, his cheek against the hollow of my shoulder, where it had once fit better, and sobbed These were not the tears of a child, and that made them more profound?made it more sacred and painful that he would cry them in front of meThis was the grief of a man at the funeral for his entire family My arms wound around him, not fitting as easily as they used to, and I cried, too ?I'm sorry,? I said again and againI apologized for everything in those two wordsThat we'd ever found this placeThat I'd been the one to take his sisterThat I'd brought her back here and hurt him againThat I'd made him cry today with my insensitive stories I didn't drop my arms when his anguish quieted; I was in no hurry to let him goIt seemed as though my body had been starving for this from the beginning, but I'd never understood before now what would feed the hungerThe mysterious bond of mother and child?so strong on this planet?was not a mystery to me any longerThere was no bond greater than one that required your life for another'sI'd understood this truth before; what I had not understood waswhyNow I knew why a mother would give her life for her child, and this knowledge would forever shape the way I saw the universe ?I know I've taught you better than that, kidJamie lurched to his feet, but I curled closer to the ground, cringing into the wall Jeb leaned down and picked up the gun we'd both forgotten from the floor?You've got to mind a gun better than this, Jamie His tone was very gentle?it softened the criticismHe reached out to tousle Jamie's shaggy hair Jamie ducked under Jeb's hand, his face scarlet with mortification ?Sorry,? he muttered, and turned as if to f