_______________
Giles sat alone in the darkened room. He was so weary. All
the work reorganizing the Council, tallying deaths. He swallowed as he remembered a special girl who'd died so bravely. He
should have...
No, Rupert, he chided himself. Let's not go there again. You never stepped forward; never took the chance.
Too late now, my lad.
A knock at the door disturbed him and he groaned as he rose. Opening the door, he gasped.
"Hi,
Rupert!" she said with a nervous smile. "Guess what? I'm not..."
She never got any further as hands cupped her face
and lips descended
