“I didn’t know if I could stop her with one blow. But I could whack the crap out of her.”

“Dude, could you please get off my girlfriend before I beat the crap out of you ? I don't want to injure her.”

“[T.J.] If she had gotten sick, the only thing I could have done was watch her suffer. Bury her next to Mick when she died. I didn’t know if I could make it without her. The sound of her voice, her smile, her– those were the things that made living on the island bearable. I held her a little tighter and thought if she woke up I might tell her that. She didn’t though. She sighed in her sleep, and eventually I drifted off.”

“Can’t hear… call back… good luck…”“Nïx, I know you’re faking the static.” She could picture her sister blowing into her fist directly at the receiver. The static abruptly stopped. “Why?”“It seemed less rude than the alternative.”“What’s that?”Click.”

“The number I had for her didn’t work. But in this depression, could you blame it?”

“How had I become middle-aged while the ravages of time ignored her? I didn't know and didn't care, and before I could stop them, the words were already out. "You're beautiful," I murmured.”