( and this, too, is refreshing: the lack of expectation. mj isn't good at giving herself over. she does it in slow, painstaking pieces. her mother gave everything. her sister, gayle, gave everything. then they had nothing left. mj vowed she would never live her life for others, the way that they did, but she is also realizing that's a double-edged sword.

she never lets the light in, either. )

Maybe?

( a smile curves on her lips. )

You don't have to tell me either, cutie. But from where I'm standing, if he doesn't, he's one scoop short of an ice cream cone.