The cousins crossed the yard together, Carol carrying her dress and Jane'ssandals, Jane still wearing her mitts and with her gag still in her mouth,so...ehow reluctant to discard these last reminders of her recent helplessness.She removed them in the kitchen and poured them both tall glasses of flavouredmineral water from the 'fridge. Carol picked up the little gag from the tableand examined it curiously before popping it into her mouth. Jane smiled ather as she tried to manoeuvre it into place. “TJ, I must look awful. I have bed hair, and I’m stinky. I haven’t showered, since yesterday morning. I’m not even wearing any makeup.”“Sweetheart,” I told her, “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. You make me feel as if I’m alive, after being dead, for so long.”“TJ, I think I may love you.”“Sandy, I know I love you. I have, for a very long time. It wasn’t until faced by this horror of death (our earth killed, and five billion people dead), that the need to feel alive, moved me so. Not being able to get to my planned destination, I diverted to a nearby ABS. It is one that I have visited many times in the past, but not recently. Usually it is not all that busy, but today the parking lot had several cars in it. Since it was early afternoon, my hunch was that there were several men recently off work seeking out some release to their sexual tension. I was pretty much correct on that one. Walking across the parking lot, however, there was a very thin person of uncertain. "I'm sorry, Frank, but I've already made other plans. One of the doctors at work wants me to go with him to some fundraiser at the Country Club, and I accepted."It couldn't have hurt worse if she'd slapped me. The pound cake I had just enjoyed suddenly felt like it weighed a ton as heavily as it sat on my stomach.I know I stuttered when I spoke."Oh ... Oh, all right then. Maybe another time."I made a few inane statements and left. Without a doubt I was hurt, but I hadn't said anything to make.