"I turned off the burners on the stove and hustled out to my Liberty. Dad was in the drivers' seat and had the engine running. We hightailed it up to ...he top of the valley. Pat was there trying to get through. Dad said, "You go to her and talk."I ran up to her. "Pat, stop this. Please, let's talk." Why? You just think I only feel gratitude or am afraid of being lonely. I won't give myself for gratitude and I'm not afraid of being lonely." She looked at me angrily."That's true. You don't need to. There was a sharp crack followed by the pain as a whip sharplyconnected with my buttocks. I screamed. "No please, oh god no please, mercy" I blubbered helplessly, knowing that it would be of no use. Anotherstroke landed across my bottom, followed by god knows how many more. Ifnothing else it made me realise just how gentle David had been with methat day in the stable. My two tormentors were only encouraged by my pleas; I knew this butcould not help myself from whimpering and begging. Even in my. Almost a moment but not quite, we just turned and watched the show, who new they had fireworks, it was beautiful. Each explosion of color lit up the sky and reflected off of her hazel eyes. First bright red, then electric blue, now her eyes are scarlet green. Each time she grew more and more beautiful to me. We oooed and awed with the people scattered throughout the garden. It felt so right to be standing there holding her. She fit into my arms perfectly, like she was sculpted to fit me. It was. Jill and Brad came out of their tents and started walking towards the woods. They had not spoken directly for nearly a month now. There was a friction between them that she wanted to address. She apologized for her mistakes and asked him to forgive her, but it was not so easy. Brad did not believe her. He wondered if she could possibly do something similar again that would hurt him. He asked her why it mattered so much that he forgive her, as soon, he was leaving town forever and they may never.