I knew just like she knew, our time together was near the end. Probably tonight should be, would be, the end. I could feel the tears forming in my eye... and I could see them already rolling down her face. I pulled her close and kissed her. Our hands touched each other in all the places that had become so familiar, not for pleasure this time, but more like to say goodbye."Hard to think this is the last time." Susan wiped at the tears with her fingers, but unable to keep up with the flow."I was. The list could be voted yes or no but could not be modified. It gave everybody political cover when things started closing.I had seen this up close and personal on my first go. When Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome was put on the list in 1993, the uproar had been deafening, and the locals all screamed that their base was a critical part of the nation’s defense. Instead, they argued, shutter that wasteful and duplicative base north of us, Plattsburgh Air Force Base! Well, the Commission promised. It had come from the girl’s room. A footstep? In the minutes that passed, more noises emerged. Wood sliding against wood, something thudding shut, more creaks of the floorboards. Finally the girl’s door began to swing ajar. Her voice hadn’t yet graced his ears so she couldn’t have seen him. Even when she emerged, padding through the dark, she didn’t jump in fright at her uninvited guest. She passed Eldrian by, with barely two meters between them, like a ghost sliding on the air. Then came a. Mine completely covered myears and was over my collar, but the front bangs were heavy and tough tomanage.We got bobbi pins a few times. Then I was in the grocery store with mymother and after she put bobbi pins in my hair."There how's that," she said knowing how I felt."It's fine," I said trying hold my head up.Later we were where the hair ornaments were."Which one's do you want to wear?" she asked me pointing at the brightlycolored barrettes."I don't want any," I replied in a timid tone.She.