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saying from the driver's seat of her SUV. Hannah glanced at her and then returned her gaze out the window to sights she didn't recognize. "There's only one more full week after this one before Christmas vacation anyway."
    Hannah's fingers lightly grazed the spot on her forehead where eight stitches were. It was becoming a habit. "I don't know what I'll do," she murmured faintly but only because she knew she was expected to say something. "Maybe I'll go tomorrow."
    "Oh not tomorrow," Patricia gasped softly, nibbling her lower lip gently. "Why, you'll need more than a day to rest at home, sweetie."
    "Oh."
    "I'm so glad you're coming home. We've missed you so much."
    On Hannah's lap rested the items Isaac had brought to Hannah in the hospital. She'd poured over the pictures and listened to her brother talk about the events in them. Isaac had even filled her in with stories of people she liked and didn't like in the yearbook; he'd been able to explain some of the inside jokes in her friends' signings too. Hannah guessed that she'd had a close bond with her brother, but her interactions with everyone seemed impersonal now.
    "I thought that if you were feeling up for it, some of your friends could stop by soon," Patricia suggested, glancing at Hannah briefly. Hannah tried not to tense. "So many of them have called every day."
    "Mmhmm," Hannah murmured, but the sound was noncommittal. Seeing her friends terrified Hannah. Since she couldn't remember anything about them, it was completely possible that she'd say or do something wrong. Hannah barely felt comfortable around her family; how could she cope with being around others already?
    But Patricia blatantly brightened. "Oh good!" She turned onto a residential street. "I know Tisha can't wait to come over. And Libby has used every argument she can think of to see you."
    Smiling politely, Hannah looked down and opened the hot pink photo album for at least the hundredth time. The first picture included Tisha, Libby, Hannah, and Morgan, and the happiness radiating from their faces entranced Hannah the instant she saw it. At the same time though, it made her more nervous.
    "Well, here we are." Patricia parked the SUV and looked at Hannah expectantly, as if under the impression that seeing 'home' would miraculously cure Hannah.
    Aware of her mother's stare, Hannah took off her seatbelt and left the passenger seat. She stood outside the car, keeping her weight off her still swollen and bruised right leg, and stared up at the Ayers's house. Cedar siding, brown roof, snow-covered bushes, a large yard…it had all the makings of a desirable home. Following Patricia, Hannah went through the front door and saw that the living room continued the log cabin theme. A quick tour proved that the entire downstairs did as well.
    On the stairs, Hannah, next to her mother, studied a wall of family portraits. It was easy to see family resemblances. Both Hannah and Isaac had inherited their father's strawberry blond hair, but Isaac's had more of Patricia's blonde in it. Benjamin's facial bone structure had been given to both children, but Patricia's lips were dominant, as were her blue eyes.
    "Come on. I'll show you upstairs."
    Hannah glanced over and saw tears glistening in Patricia's eyes; she felt a light tugging at her heart as she continued up the stairs, following her mother submissively. Her bedroom was the first stop. The walls were purple, and her desk, bed frame, dresser , and chest were white. The curtains and bedspread were lime green, but Hannah most admired the cleanliness of her room. Even with personal touches here and there, the room was tidy.
    Beside Hannah's closet was a full-length mirror, and Hannah felt drawn to it. Her reflection showed the two-inch line of stitches on her forehead, but the bruising and swelling of her face had all but disappeared thankfully. Aside from the stitches, Hannah thought she looked pretty healthy.
    Apparently, Patricia knew what Hannah was thinking, for she