his nose smelled the damp earth and his ears registered running footsteps down the alley . i know , do the best you can . something in his soul screamed for him to shove her out the door and then lock it tight . i woke alone , but the space next to me was still warm . frantic , i looked back up the street and saw a porch light come on a few houses back up the way i had come . you wo n't sway me on this . her words cut through my thoughts . 