“Why me,” floated through my head and out my mouth, unbidden.Upon hearing my voice, they both turned and Milla doubled over laughing. I couldn’t...take my eyes from her friend, though. Standing there in armor from the city guard was a beautiful vision. Her shiny dark brown, almost black, fur looked smooth as silk. Her small muzzle and tiny ears tugged at my memory, but I couldn’t remember what she reminded me of. Her sky-blue eyes held an air of mischief. Milla walked up and hit the reset button. Eventually the situation stabilised and we reverted to normal duties. I knew I was just a number being used. I needed to get a normal life.Declan, my former tutor at the Tech, sent me a letter. He asked me to call in to his office, as he had an enquiry that he thought would suit me. I phoned him. He told me one of his mates in Northern Ireland Railways had told him they would be looking for engineering staff in the next few months. I got on the bike and went to see him. The railways were. ‘Thanks. I’m glad you said that. Yes. I used to talk to my parents a lot. I miss them. I know they’ve probably been worried about me. I should at least let them know I’m still alive. It’s been more than four months.’ Bob listened to the lilt in her voice. There was concern there, but dread too. What a beautiful resonant soprano she must be. He wondered if she were ever in the church choir. He wanted to slap himself. He kept day dreaming. He knew he must be sick. She was all he could think. An der Kasse sa? ein ziemlich jungesM?dchen, stark geschminkt. Neugierig betrachtete sie meinen Einlauf."F?r meine Schwester", log ich, froh dar?ber, nicht auch noch gestottertzu haben.Ich war nach dem Verlassen des Gesch?ftes fix und fertig. Eigentlichwollte ich ja noch Makeup kaufen, aber ich traute mich nicht. Was w?rdedie Kassiererin dann sagen? Ich musste Svenja um Hilfe bitten.Als ich bei Svenja eintraf, sah sie die T?te von der Drogerie undfragte, "Na, Makeup gekauft?"Nein. Nur T?cher.".