he was still very weak and walked with one hand on the wall to brace himself at all times . did you know what you wanted from someone ? lessons about life , wrapped up in a fruitcake recipe . if i meant to say more i could n't have . he shook his head : a blood rose . it seemed an age since the screaming and yelling stopped . i stopped feeling so sorry for myself and started hating instead . i know you 're on the pill , so birth control is taken care of , right ? '' 