… she was afraid to remove the clockwork heart from her chest.

"So, you put coins on the eyes of the dead?" the journalist asked …

It took ages to finish …

"People are fickle! … “

As the moment predictably neared, Dillard gave everyone a comforting wink …

"So, do we have standards suddenly?" Terry asked, grinning …

She sat there, patting the tiny leg, with her mind racing …

"I turn to needles when I'm depressed or anxious ... “

"I think that'll do," he remarked casually …

“I know that we’re star stuff, Dad,” his son interrupted …

"Ugh, I hate summer," she said …

"I have to draw the line somewhere … “

Pale and serious, Kelvin pivoted slowly in his chair …

"What will this day deliver?" X whispered …

"I don't play that way," she said, sipping her coffee …

"Unexpected," Chuck whispered, sitting very still …

Sandra told the truth and let the questioning exhaust her …

"I agree that none of this makes any sense …

The crow, as it lay dying, did not panic or vow revenge …

She would write all day, on this day …