don’t know what you mean, so I’m going to assume you want to be taken at face “I value,” said Nancy. I am very tired. I’m going to bed.” “Yes. thought you might be tired,” said Sumi. girls always are. She said “Ely-Eleanor “New you can skip group tonight, but you can’t make a habit of it. Words are an important part of the healing process. Words, words, words.” She wrinkled her nose. asked me to remember so “She many of them, and all in the order she gave, and all for You’re not Nonsense at all, are you, you. ghostie? You wouldn’t want so many words if you were.” sorry,” said Nancy. never said I was from…a place like you went to visit.” “I’m “I will be the death of all, and you’re better than most of the roommates she’s “Assumptions tried to give me; I’ll keep you,” said Sumi wearily. She stood, walking toward the door. “Sleep well, ghostie. I’ll see you in the morning.” Nancy hadn’t intended to speak: the word had simply escaped her lips, like a “Wait!” runaway calf. The thought horrified her. Her stillness was eroding, and if she stayed in this dreadful, motile world too long, she would never be able to get it back again. Sumi turned to face her, cocking her head. do you want now?” “What just wanted to know—I mean, I was just wondering—how old are you?” “I Sumi turned finishing her walk toward the door. Then, facing into the hall, “Ah.” she said, than I look, younger than I ought to be. My skin is a riddle not to be solved, and “Older even letting go of everything I love won’t offer me the answer. My window is closing, if that’s what you’re asking. Every day I wake up a little more linear, a little less lost, and one day I’ll be one of the women who says had the most charming dream,’ and I’ll mean it. Old enough to ‘I know what I’m losing in the process of being found. Is that what you wanted to know?” said Nancy. “No,”
“I don’t know what you mean, so I’m going to assume you want to be taken at face value,” said Nancy. “Yes. I am very tired. I’m going to bed.” “Ely-Eleanor thought you might be tired,” said Sumi. “New girls always are. She said you can skip group tonight, but you can’t make a habit of it. Words are an important part of the healing process. Words, words, words.” She wrinkled her nose. “She asked me to remember so many of them, and all in the order she gave, and all for you. You’re not Nonsense at all, are you, ghostie? You wouldn’t want so many words if you were.” “I’m sorry,” said Nancy. “I never said I was from…a place like you went to visit.” “Assumptions will be the death of all, and you’re better than most of the roommates she’s tried to give me; I’ll keep you,” said Sumi wearily. She stood, walking toward the door. “Sleep well, ghostie. I’ll see you in the morning.” “Wait!” Nancy hadn’t intended to speak: the word had simply escaped her lips, like a runaway calf. The thought horrified her. Her stillness was eroding, and if she stayed in this dreadful, motile world too long, she would never be able to get it back again. Sumi turned to face her, cocking her head. “What do you want now?” “I just wanted to know—I mean, I was just wondering—how old are you?” “Ah.” Sumi turned finishing her walk toward the door. Then, facing into the hall, she said, “Older than I look, younger than I ought to be. My skin is a riddle not to be solved, and even letting go of everything I love won’t offer me the answer. My window is closing, if that’s what you’re asking. Every day I wake up a little more linear, a little less lost, and one day I’ll be one of the women who says ‘I had the most charming dream,’ and I’ll mean it. Old enough to know what I’m losing in the process of being found. Is that what you wanted to know?” “No,” said Nancy.