youeveryday."

    "Whatdoyoumean,ewithyou?"

    "Iwaswaitingfortherighttimetotellyou,butIveenrolled.Classesstartintwoweeks,andIvedecidedtogetmymastersdegree.Beforeitstoolate.Idontwanttoendupanoldmaidwhoneverwentafterwhatshewanted."

    Iwaellheragedidntmatter,thatIlovedherthenandwouldloveherintwoortwentyortwohundredyears,butIdidnotsayaword.Shepattedmeonthekneealedclose,andIbreathedinthestofherhair.Weletthenightpass.Anairplanecrossedthevisualfieldbetweenusandthemooingthemomentaryillusionthatitastedonthelunarsurface.Shedozedinmyarmsandawokewithastartpasteleven.

    "Ivegottogo,"Tesssaid.Shekissedmeontheforehead,arolleddowntothecar.Thewalkseemedtosofthewine-iupor.

    "Hey,whenareyourclasses?Icoulddriveyouiimesifitsduringtheday."

    "Thatsagoodidea.Maybeyoullgetinspiredtogobackyourself."

    Sheblewmeakiss,thenvanishedbehieeringwheelanddroveaway.Theoldhousestaredatme,andintheyardthetreesreachedouttotheyellowmoon.Iwalkedupstairs,edupinthemusimyhead,aosleepinHenrysbed,inHenrysroom.

    ossessedTesstochooseinfanticidewereamysterytome.Therewereotheroptions:siblingrivalry,theburdenofthefirstborn,theoedipalson,thedisappearingfather,andsoon.ButshepickedinfanticideasherthesistopicforherseminarinSociologyoftheFamily.And,ofcourse,sinceIhadnothingtodomostdaysbutwaitaroundcampusordrivearouywhileshewasinclasses,Ivoluohelpwiththeresearch.Afterherlastclass,sheaoutforcoffeeordrinks,atfirsttoplotouthowtotackletheproj