We sat in silence for a moment. Then, an expression appeared on Casimir’s face that I had grown to know and love. It was a countanance of determination and inspiration; a look of confident hope. “Essie, do you think it’s possible… that you could… maybe stay a little longer? For my birthday perhaps? That is, if you want to. Maybe, if your dad said it was okay, then you could. What do you say?” Casimir inquired curiously. As I looked at his face, gleaming with delight, I knew how much I wanted to be with him. Oh! I couldn’t describe how beautiful, albiet wounded, he was! I couldn’t say no in a million years. But then, I’d have to ask Daddy, I speculated. Somehow, that didn’t matter, though. I had faith that things would be okay. This time, I decided to talk to my dad on the telephone – where I could hear his voice. Goodness, I truly missed the sound of it, lisp and all!