I’d never seen a man cry before, only on TV. I’d never even seen Dad close to crying. Those tears looked so odd on you. It was like the strength of you just seemed to sap away. The surprise of it stopped me from being so scared.

I thought you didn't want to let me go.

I love you," you said, simple as anything.

Everyone wanted answers I wasn't ready to give.

Your beautiful mouth was moving like a caterpillar. I reached out and tried to catch it.

How would she find her herd? How would she find you?

I remember the lights turning into blurs of blazing fire. I remember the air-conditioning chilling my arms. The smell of coffee smudging into the smell of eucalyptus.