She had been foolish to think that death would remove him from this place . How could it when his life was still contained in these books , each page whispering with his voice , each volume of encyclopedia conjuring up the image of him sitting at the dinner table , his arm waving as if engaged in battle while trivia spilled out of him , drowning her as she tried to eat ? As if she had needed nothing more than for him to stuff her with facts until she burst .
This room was filled with him , like the caterpillar was infested by wasps . Taunting her . Mocking her .
Crunch crunch , little Adeline . I am watching you . Crunch crunch , little Adeline . I am judging you . Crunch crunch , little Adeline . Can you hear me chewing ? “ Enough !” It came out in a scream before she could stop herself . The room crunched in response , louder now , as if to match her aggression .
She pulled the books out of the shelves . One by one , they fell to the floor , like little birds plummeting from their nest . She stepped on them , crunching spines , twisting pages as delicate as wings . She opened his folders , ripped out sheet after sheet . Edward had kept diligent record of all their expenses . How they sailed through the room now , all those numbers , all the reds and blacks , like a flurry of snow .
She had to burn it . Yes , burn it all . Everything he had ever touched . Cleanse it with flames . Only then would the noise stop .
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