I hunker down behind t'house an' pull t'fags out of m'breast pocket. Lighting one with shakin' fingers I take a drag an' lean m'head against t'warm wood. 'm shaking again, this time not wi' fever but with anger.

Why don' he never know when his words cut me to t'bone?

-.-

"You feeling better today."

"Yeah, much better."

"Good. Arm still hurting? It's only been three days, take it easy, ok?"

"Jus' hurtin' a bit. And I am, don' worry."

"Ok, good good…"

"Rick?"

"Huh… oh… what happened to you guys out there… I'm gonna tell Deanna we don't need to go looking for people anymore…"

'm stunned into silence. Slowly I straighten up from where 'm crouched by t'bike an' look at him. My heart is beatin' wildly, an' I feel the urge t'run.

"Feel different about it?"

Why does he even need t'ask? Don' he know me at all, after all dis time?

"Yeah, I do."

"People out there, they gotta take care of themselves. Just like us."

I don' know what t'say, so I say nuthin'. But m'insides are roiling, an' I almost feel sick again.

"I'm gonna get him out…"

He's talking about Morgan, locked in one of dem houses. He's already forgotten me, I can tell. I don' really listen to t'rest, jus' watch him walk away. I should tell him what I think, but right now there's no words, jus' misery fillin' me up like poison.

-.-

Why is he taking this away from me? Doesn' he know that now 'm left wi' nuthin' again?

Doesn' he care?