Dune’s eyes went sharp with tears that came on so fast they hurt. She was not willing to cry here. “I’m not fucking leaving! Everyone I know and love is here, they live on this stinking fuck ass wind. You don’t know what you’re even saying. Live!? What the fuck kind of life are we supposed to live!? We’re all alone here, Jen!! With a bunch of people who are sick and won’t stop crying and won’t even drink fucking water and you think I should just leave them out in the cold and let them freeze to death or bring them here to die in your 611 back room? I don’t care what you would do, you’re a visitor moving numbers! You leave here and go back to some place where the people you love are safe, and warm, and talking to you. Shit, you should just fucking leave. You should just go, so those of us here can figure out how to stop this shit. I didn’t come in here for your fucking life coaching. I just want to know one thing and if you don’t know the answer, Jen? If you don’t have a fucking clue? Then just say that and I will figure it out my goddamn motherfucking self!”

Dune was as loud as she had ever been, spit flying across the table. The whole crisis center was quiet. She was suddenly that person. She had never been that person before. She was breathing hard, tears streaming down her face. Jen looked like a kicked dog.

“My name is Sarah,” Jen said, not quite meeting Dune’s eyes.

Dune held the tension in her body for a moment and then it broke, and she started chuckling, and then laughing so hard her head fell back. Jen/Sarah’s eyes looked even more concerned. From within, Dune was watching herself lose her mind. She was in a crazy city full of—or more accurately, empty with—crazy people. Crazy people dying quietly, crazy people helping when no help was actually useful. Who cared what anyone thought of her anymore? She was thirsty on behalf of people who no longer remembered they could drink water.

“Come on now honey,” a voice spoke. Reluctant Placeholder was standing next to her, she’d been talking to another volunteer. She placed a hand on Dune’s back and pointed towards the door with her head and then turned and walked away.

“Right.” Bitter tongue, bitter voice. “Sarah. Nice to meet you, Sarah. Ok. Thanks for the food, Sarah.” Dune picked up the bag aggressively and stepped back from the table. Her heart was beating on the outer edges of her body. She needed to get out of this building. She turned and saw the people, Mama Bear, the farmers, the humans full of gossip and composure.