[ yams, your Crisp. she'll tag along then, make sure he safely gets there. when his hand is held out she takes it almost immediately, a very gentle hold. ]

..I had hoped so, too. [ after what happened last week.. ] I wonder.. why last week was different, to this week? Was it because.. it was too late, for Malik?

[ it's such a sad and painful thought to have. but what if that was the reason why? or was it something else entirely? ]