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So it was: I learned I would be queen via a ruht have spoken the truth

Had true love entered into the story, I would gladly have exchanged my mountain life for it Or, had I ever dreamed of power, perhaps I could have overlooked the absence of love I had lavish cha Atlas was handso, he spoke to an to flicker like adate was set Atlas still had not proposed to me I was confined to my chambers, a splendid prison whose iron bars were velvet-covered Alone in own and the lustrous orichalcudom Twin tears welled in ar crown," a voice said fro in shadows "I thought no one could enter"

"You’ll grow accustoure said "Do you love hiht, where I can see you"

The figure rose froht caressed his features He looked fament of a dream

"Do you love him?" he repeated

It was as if soer’s eyes entranced me They were the color of the cove where I swa to dive in

"Love?" I whispered

"Yes Love That whichThat which arrives to carry us where we need to go"

I shook , punishable by death I began to regret everything The boy before me smiled

"Then there’s hope"

Once I had crossed the blue boundary of his eyes, I never wanted to find erous real his fine features

He nodded stiffly "Back froh dom think that I was lost at sea" He smiled a so and discover me"

"Welcome home"

He stepped from the shadows, pulled me to him, and kissed me with matchless abandon Until that moment, I had not known bliss I would have stayed locked in his kiss forever, but aa piece of the gossipwitches’ tiht you loved--"

"I never loved until I found you" He spoke sincerely from a soul I knew I could never doubt Fro wouldstood between us and a universe of love …

SWAK

Madame B, Gilda, and Brunhilda

19

STORM CLOUDS

On Fridayat Eureka’s locker "You weren’t at Latin Club"

His hands were stuffed in his pockets and he looked like he’d been waiting there awhile He was blocking the locker next to Eureka’s, which belonged to Sarah Picou, a girl so terribly shy she’d never tell Brooks toto class without her books

Rhoda had insisted it would rain, and though the drive to school had been clear and bright, Eureka had her heather-gray slicker on She liked hiding under its hood She’d hardly slept and didn’t want to be at school She didn’t want to talk to anyone

"Eureka"--Brooks watched her twirl the dial on her combination lock--"I orried"

"I’reen sweater was too snug He wore shiny new loafers The hallas choked with shouting kids, and the seed of a headache was splitting open and sprouting a razor-wire beanstalk in Eureka’s brain

Five lish class o flights up and at the other end of the building She opened her locker and threw in some binders Brooks hovered over her like a hall hties teen ht," she said, "and Williaone, so I had to …" She waved her hand, as if he should understand the scope of her responsibilities without being told

The tere not sick Eureka was the one who’d had a craet before cross-countrythe encounter with Ander and his truck, the four pedestrians froht Ander had turned on theht before to call Cat She’d wanted to set the story free, to unburden herself

But she couldn’t tell anyone After she drove hoda’s grille Then she ran up to her roo down to Rhoda that she was too swamped with homework to eat "Swa see every headlight was a pale psychopath searching for her