"Bonnie, up on your knees he said," softly. "The rest of you maintain your positions and do not look around."Bonnie straightened up and Jake held out ... narrow black leather collar. The collar buckled in the back, and from the front was suspended a gold heart shaped pendant. He showed her the pendant, motioning for her to keep quiet. Inscribed upon the pendant was "Bonnie, property of Jake Whitman". Her eyes glistened as he silently buckled the collar around her neck, kissing her deeply.One at a. When we had reached the hospital, Mom and I had held onto each other for ten minutes and then other people began to arrive. I had ended up in a chair next to the door. Brad had gone out to get me a soda, but I went ahead and left the hospital.Joyie had wanted to come with me, but I had told her I needed to be alone and asked her to come and get me when Dad came out of surgery. Thing was, I wasn't sure he was going to come out of surgery.During his first year as a police officer, Dad had. It was so long ago, like the words in her song. It feels like a lifetime ago, but I still want you here with me. And all my heart can say, yes still to this day, is please don't go.But if you can't be here with me, at least I have the memories of you to help get me through the day. Those memories are so much more than what the word implies. I know memories can hurt you, I know the sweetness of them can still make you cry. But what I feel for you, yes still to this day, is so vivid and real.I. In fact I needed the apartment and the security it would bring. I startedwalking again. I told myself I had decided. But, at the back of my mind,I knew that I didn't actually have a choice.I arrived at the main door of the block and rang the bell of theapartment. Aunt Alice told me to come on up. "My housekeeper, MrsRoberts, will help you get ready." The remote lock buzzed open and I wentacross to the lift. The apartment was on the third floor. I wasn'tcertain that my legs were steady enough to.