“I caught the attention of Renee Buckner in the university’s art department. She conned me into giving a couple of seminars in her classes, and th...en into having a two-month exhibit of my work at the university gallery. I brought thirty of my paintings over and we set up the exhibit. Renee held a gala wine and cheese reception to launch the exhibit and anybody that was anybody at the university and in the art circles around the two-county area came. I was amazed.“The gala was very nice, and well. Badly," he corrected."What did you do?" I don't want to talk about it. I'll tell you one day maybe... " Are you sad?" he asked pensively.He shrugged sadly, but nodded."Maybe she'll come back," Will said brightly. "Maybe if you say you're sorry?" I already did," he sighed. "It's no use. She's not gonna come back."Will nodded, thinking."See, that's what happens when you're a dick. So be nice!" Oh, I will! I always try to be." Good."Will stood up. "You wanna go play basketball?" he asked, trying. "I don't know where I'm going, but I believe. It will be over soon, love. Learn from us, Michael. Don't let your life get away from you."Those were her last words to me. The last words she ever uttered. I sat by her side until the beeping monitors beside me stopped and her body lost its rigid look. The pain left her and she relaxed into peace. It should have been horrible. It should have been scary. It was neither. It was almost beautiful, to watch her melt into eternity.I sat on the edge of my. "Are you hot, George?" Yes." You'll be nice to Helen, won't you?" Yes." She's a dear friend and I've told her all about you. Don't worry, she'll keep our secret, George. But you're going to do what you're told, aren't you?"And at that moment the doorbell rang and George realized that Irma's friend had arrived."Just stay where you are," Irma said, pulling away from George and then rising from the sofa.He lay there trembling, more uncertain of things than ever before, and also more thrilled. The.