The BLTS Archive - Bitterman
by Amiroq. aka Gypzy (fitchett@netaccess.co.nz)

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It's times like these when the anger turns in on itself, when she's
crying in her sleep and calling out his name, like I'm not even here.
Times like these, I honestly don't know which is crueler: leaving her
to sleep or waking her up? Even these little snatches have to do her
some good.

Eventually I do us both a favor and shake her awake. "Harry?" she
whispers, pleading, whimpering. A stab of bitterness, again, at what
they've done to her - to all of us. Then I shush her, pushing wet hair
from her sweat-soaked skin.

Her eyes are red and black, and she collapses on my shoulder. I know
what she's feeling, the sense of emptiness, of utter hopelessness.
It's too late for us. Maybe...

"Chakotay?" she asks after a few minutes.

"Hmm?"

"He's not coming back, is he?"

"No."

I can feel her ribs when she cries.

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The End