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As soon as the words slip past rab them with my hands and crush them in my fists

But I can’t

The words are there

I’ve called A I swore I’d never do

I was the only person on the whole ship who hadn’t called her that

And now I have

Amy jerks her head, alainst her cheek She spins on her heel and storrav tube that would take her away from me

“A after her She ducks her head away froh the door I grab her by the elbow, spinning her around and pulling her back into the Great Roorasp, but at least she doesn’t keep running from me

“I’m sorry,” I say immediately “I didn’t mean that I’ain, but she flinches from me, and I drop it immediately

She doesn’t meet my eyes

“You’re right,” she finally says, blinking rapidly and looking up at the artificial stars

“No, I’m not, I’m sorry, you’re not a freak, you’re not ”

She shakes her head “Not about that AboutI’m scared,” she whispers

She twists the wi-co a redThere have been ti and she’d suddenly drop from the conversation, retreat within herself for a few ht it had so to do withto trigger aif it’s so else

“What’s wrong?” I ask, one, replaced with concern