20
Numb Not Napping
April was only vaguely aware of the others moving around her, their voices a low murmur she couldn’t properly focus on. Her eyes were hot and dry and crying again would be a relief, but the tears didn’t come. She couldn’t feel the soft warmth of the puppy in her arms, and the comfort and joy he always gave her wasn’t there. Salima touched her shoulder and April knew she was talking to her, but she couldn’t summon up the energy even to listen. Then Lars’s arm was around her, guiding her gently back through the airlock to their own ship. She couldn’t look up at him either.
Somehow she ended up snuggled into her hammock with Boo curled up against her belly. She wasn’t sure if she’d gotten in herself or been helped in by one of the others. She still couldn’t cry, she def
