Silence fell between them and they stayed wrapped in their own worlds. Loren's expression changed with his thoughts. More than once he seemed about to speak but stopped. Finally, looking determined, he asked, "Did you really-I mean were you with her when she-"
"Yeah." She looked away. Memories stirred in her head, only this time they were of Rachel sitting in the snow, staring at the same sky she was looking at now, her violet eyes wistful.
Loren shifted uncomfortably and asked in a whisper, "What was it like?" She stared at him, open mouthed, and he explained, "I mean her. Did it - did it hurt? Did she just burst into flames or-" he swallowed. "I've never seen it." He dropped his gaze to the ground. "I don't know what it's like."
"Horrible. It was so slow and so-horrible." A single so
