“Dru? Don't leave wihtout me."What could I say to that? I said the only thing I could. "I promise.”

“Don't do that again! Not ever again!" I told him."I should say the same to you," he said. I could feel his breath, warm on my neck. "Promise me!" I demanded."I... I promise.""I can't lose you.”

“Stay with me.” “We’re married,” she whispered. “Of course I’ll stay.” “You could decide to leave me.” “I won’t.” “Promise me.” “I have promised. I do promise.”

“She said “I love you,” and I said the only thing I could say: “How about every other Tuesday?”

“I couldn't trust you with it. To do something with it. I don't want anybody talking about me. To say where I was or what I said when I was there. I mean, you could talk about me maybe. But nobody could say that it was me. I could be anybody. I think in times like these the less said the better. If something had happened and we were survivors and we met on the road then we'd have something to talk about. But we're not. So we don't.”

“I want to tell you,' the voice on the phone said. 'My head is filled with things to say.'...'I don't mind,' Hal said softly. 'I could wait forever.''That's what you think,' the voice said. The connection was cut.”