Chapter119

Don'twantmetogo...Don'twantmetogo.

ThewordshauntedmeandIbarelynoticedanythinguntilIreturnedtomyrelatives'homeinBrooklyn,whenKeithletmegoonvacationapartfromtheothers.Itthoughtitwastheresultofmypregnancythatmademelookbad,butnotbecauseIcouldn'tletitleaveme.

Ileanedoverthefryingbed,lookingatthebigmanwhowasstillundressing,showinghistoes,feelinganindescribablelumpinmyback,andthepaininmyleftchestwasunbearable.Ineverthoughtitwouldbesopainfultoleavehim,evenifIjustwantedto,soItriednottothinkaboutit,butIstillcouldn'tdoit.Finally,Icouldn'twaittogetoutofbedandgotoKeith,whowasturningtolookatme.

"Whydon'tyousleep,Gwent?"

Ididn'tcareandsuddenlyhuggedit.Keithlookedalittleconfused,buthuggedmeandraisedhishandtotouchthebackofmyhead.

"What'sthematter?"

Ididn'tspeak,justpressedmyfacetothefloor,Keithhadtoask.

"What'sthematter,Gwent?"

"Idon'twanttogo,"Isaidinalowvoice,andKeithsuddenlyrealizedthatIhadbeenquietfromNASAuntilIgotbackhere,becausehepulledme,raisedthetipofmychin,kissedme,andthenspoke.