10
Claire
Although I had believed that I would never enjoy tasting anything as much as that first sip of Diet Coke after my escape, tucking into Alex’s spaghetti was beyond marvelous.
“Oh-my-gah!” I moaned around a mouthful of pasta––lost in sheer delight.
Alex and Hannah were both ignoring their own plates, in favor of watching me enjoy my food. Once I swallowed that first delicious bite, I said, “I’ve missed real food almost as much as I missed you two and Pepper.”
Concern immediately darkened Alex’s gaze. His teeth were gritted together when he asked, “He didn’t feed you?”
“Oh, he did.” I assured him. Staring at my plate as I swirled a second set of spaghetti strands around my fork, I added, “I was given a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a container of orange Jell-O at 11 a.
