"Bianca!" she collapses to the bed as Bianca moves up to hold
her, "So wonderful."

"Yes, you are." Bianca kisses her lightly, "I love you, Maggie."

"I love you, Bean." >>>

Bianca rolls off the mattress onto her hands and knees. She heaves
with her whole body in vain as there is nothing to expel but anger.
She cries out in anguish as tears creep out of long dry ducts.
Suddenly, as if to beat the memory away, she bashes her head into the
floor drawing blood. It leaves a fresh mark, but heals quickly.

"Stupid. More pain than needed." The ebony bird admonishes, "You
torture yourself needlessly."

"SHUT UP!" she screams at it.

"Just do duty. The pain is not needed." It argues.

"I NEED IT!" Bianca stands putting her fists through the window. "I
couldn’t save her! I…deserve to suffer!" she watches the gashes
heal.

"This isn’t about your suffering. It’s about theirs." With that the
bird flies out of the room into the house.

Bianca grabs the black electrical tape out of the closet. She walks
to the window, climbs out it and up to the rooftop. Once up there
she proceeds to tape up the holes in her clothing form the many
wounds she has received. Once satisfied with that she watches the
gray light of day begin its encroachment. It comes, but not fully
yet.

"I’m sorry, Maggie." She says out loud.

"What are you sorry for?" comes a voice from below.

"Many things, but one in particular, Anna." Bianca drops from the
second story landing a few feet in front of Anna Devane.

"Oh!" Anna gasps in surprise, "You are something else."

"Entirely so." Bianca stands upright facing her.

"So, tell me what you are sorry for most." Anna pushes on.

"Sorry…agonizingly sorry that I couldn’t save Maggie."

"How could you have?" Anna finishes.

"Chief Devane, I believe you are toying with me, now."

"It’s just…I couldn’t believe…" Anna stutters remembering her
friend’s open grave, open from the inside out, "B-Bianca…it is you…"
she reaches toward her.

Bianca shies away from the offered touch, "Please don’t touch me,
Anna…I’m not her really."

"But you are…How?!"

"I don’t know, but it isn’t for long." Bianca whips her hair out of
her face, "I have duties and then…"

"Death comes again?"

"No…not again. I’m dead now, Anna." Bianca smiles sadly.