asked Freedom. Madelyn looked up at him. “Can you not call me that? You make it sound like I’m some ninety-year-old dowager or something.” “Sorry,” he said. “I forgot. You asked me that before.” “I did?” Her brow wrinkled up and she managed a half smile. “I guess I forgot, too.” She took a few quick steps ahead and raised her arms to the afternoon sun. He let her have the distance and kept his pace. “I remember thinking ‘dowager’ was an unusual word for a teenage girl to use.” “I had to read Great Expectations a few months ago for class.” She paused in mid-step. “Well, a few years ago. The word was on the back of the book, but,” she said, with a knowing tone, “Charles Dickens never actually used it himself.” “Is that so?” “Yeah. And, yeah, I’m okay,” she added. “This is great. It’s just … it feels like forever since I’ve been out without all my gear.” Freedom still thought it was good she’d decided to wear a coat and long sleeves.
What do You think about Ex-Communication: A Novel?
