The crow swoops down and in through the slightly open door of the old
boarding house. Bianca stands on the sidewalk simply looking at the
run down building. Inside somewhere in this cold yet living body,
she knows this house knew so much love.

"Love…" she breathes the word out with longing.

Finally, she walks through the front door to find the crow perched
waiting for her. She ignores the dark bird as she makes her way
upstairs. On her way up, she trails one finger on the railing
cringing with the memories that come.

<<< Maggie frantically calling for her and holding her as they watch
Leo die…>>>

<<<Simone and Frank kissing on the landing and blushing when she and
Maggie catch them…>>>

<<<Myrtle hugging Bianca when she confesses her love for Maggie to
her…>>>

<<<Maggie leading her up the stairs in their ball gowns on New Year’s
Eve…Bianca sees herself fumbling with the key trying to open the door…
Maggie stills her hands gently opening the door together…>>>

Bianca shudders removing her finger from the railing as she reaches
the top of the stairs. She draws in a deep, shaky breath before
moving down the hall to her old room. She stands in the doorway
almost afraid to go in. She feels her dark companion behind her.

"If you touch more, pain will follow." Mutters the bird.

"So I feel." Bianca answers, "It’s deep in my bones."

"So quit."

"You want me to do my duty?" Bianca muses.

"You must." The simple reply.

"Then, the pain must keep coming or…" she stops speaking.

"Or?"

"The pain must keep coming…I must remember my purpose." She turns to
look down at the crow, "The anger only stays with the pain."

"You are a strange one." The bird flies into the room, "You have no
instinct for revenge…it’s all forced vindication for you…strange
indeed."

"The more I see, the more I hurt with the longing and the more they
must suffer." Bianca explains coldly.

"The longing?" the bird ***** its head.

"Maggie." She steps into the room, "Beautiful Maggie."

The crow stays silent. Sometimes even this agent of death knows when
to leave well enough alone. Bianca paces around the room seemingly
searching for a place to begin. Eventually, she walks to the wall
placing her hand on the faded graffiti.

<<< "That should cover it being a hate crime." Jake caps the can of
spray paint.