I kept my memories close. They made that feeling--that incredible sense of void, of incompleteness, of missing--dull and go away. Maybe my focus on my own, new, life was lessened because of that, but can I be blamed? Still--something's swelling into my throat and it's thrilling and it hurts, but it's that heartache that smacks of home.

"Bingo." I can't stop the touches of a smile emerging at the corners of my mouth. The best I can hope for is a grimace, at least--to hide this overwhelming, ah, feeling.

My hands shake, slightly. I swear I'm not going to break down--and I control myself a little more.