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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Please be respectful of your fellow writers/readers and keep your stories to 100 words. Thank you and Shalom.
Once more I’m sharing an excerpt from an excerpt from both FROM SILT AND ASHES and A STONE FOR THE JOURNEY. As I write, I’m making progress with the latter. Thank you for your patience and kind feedback.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
GOODBYE, HELLO
Ulrich held Havah’s letter to his nose and breathed in the aroma of rose water. He pictured her at her table, black waves cascading over her shoulders.
His mind harked back to Rotterdam Harbor where they bid each other farewell. The taste of their stolen kiss lingered on his lips, even as Arel waited on the dock.
“How are things in America?” asked his housemate Nikolai.
Ulrich tossed him the letter. “Read for yourself.”
“They’re happy despite the cold winter. Good for them.”
“Yes indeed.” Biting his lip, Ulrich crumpled the envelope. “I’m delirous for them.”
“Ulrich, let her go.”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Lots of depth here. I can feel the weight of these characters
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Dear Neil,
Poor Ulrich. I felt for him, even as I didn’t let him have the girl…well, not that girl. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely prompt. Thank you for setting it up.
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Thank you Sarah. Hope you liked my story, too. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Bit of a tear-jerker this week, m’lady, but that is often the price of illicit love, I guess.
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Dear CE,
Ulrich is nothing if not a gentleman, still….happy to elicit a tear or two. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So much longing in so few words. The scent of rose water and memories bring Havah so near, and yet she’s so far away. Beautiful and sad, Rochelle.
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Dear Jan,
So much space between them. He in London, she in Kansas City. I’m glad my intent came through. Than you for your lovely comments, my early rising friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The tension in that closing conversation – I remember it from the book and can picture the scene perfectly. Still, Ulrich goes on to find a love of his own, which is some consolation. Beatifully done.
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Dear Sandra,
It’s a tad different from the book and that’s the fun of it. I couldn’t leave Ulrich hanging, could I? I feel like Pygmalion…in love with my own creations. 😉 Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So much anger and tension, Rochelle! Nicely told. I’m not much of a fan of love stories, but jilted lovers always catch my attention.
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Dear Spaceman,
Ulrich’s not exactly jilted, but the feelings are definitely there. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ahh, I suppose I’d get the full history if I read the book! 😉
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😉
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So much bitterness and resent here. But hey, a lover who has lost is allowed some bitterness. Beautiful piece, Rochelle. Cheers, Varad.
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Dear Varad,
I suppose he is allowed. Although poor Ulrich was never Havah’s lover. Close, but no cigar.
Thank you..
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, maybe it only lasts because they are so far apart. She’s become a dream. This feels like a slice of reality. A sliver, maybe.
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Dear Sarah,
Absence does make the heart grow fonder. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing like a distant love to keep you hankering. Beautifully bitter-sweet.
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Dear Claire,
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Thank you for reading and commenting. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It must be difficult to be the one left behind when the one you love moves to a better life. Being Valentines Day, I hope he finds love, either by following her across or moving on. I guess I have to read the books to find out.
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Dear Trent,
Naturally, I hope you’ll read the books. 😉 Not wanting to spoil it, I will tell you that the author hasn’t left Ulrich high and dry. .Thank you,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I most likely will break down and read them some day. I do like that author you spoke of 😉
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Well-conveyed bitterness. I really like this dialogue.
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Dear Josh,
Ulrich is a mixture of emotions. I’m a big ran of dialogue to make a story more interesting. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ulrich has lost Havah, but he’ll never forget her. You convey the lifelong nature of his passion delicately and yet with strength.
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Dear Penny,
What a lovely comment to which I say only, Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Ah yes… I’m still torn about those two. I kinda wanted, kinda hoped they would get together but, as we know, in the end, the right people found each other… Sigh…
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I hated leaving poor Ulrich in the cold. Havah would’ve had a very different life with him…and I very good one, I’m sure. On the other hand, it would’ve been a very different story, wouldn’t it? 😉 Thank you, my friend,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s fun to play the “what if” game with the characters…😉
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Really, I think writing any story is about ‘what if” or playing “pretend like” when we’re little kids. It might be fun to write an alternative story…what if Gittel had lived? What if Havah did marry Ulrich? Hmmmmmm….some things to ponder….
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I so agree!
Huge what ifs!!
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There is such a lot of tension in this short piece. It’s amazing how insensitive and unobservant some people can be!
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Dear Jane,
A lot of tension indeed. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Good excerpts from your books, Rochelle. Good writing as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Glad you enjoyed the excerpt. As always, thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The heart wants…. sigh. He can change his mind, but not the mind of his heart
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Dear Vivian,
So true. Ulrich will always care for Havah. Not to give away the plot of the second book, I can say that he will find another love. 😉 thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure!
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Ah, ”tis better to have loved an lost, than never loved at all”. Even if only in the heart and mind. Love will find a way. Ok, sorry for those. Not. You brought the tension along so well in so few words. A well written shorty, me thinks.
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Ah, welcome to the Fields’ cliche fest. 😉 Thanks for the comments and constant support. Shorty??? 😀
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At least she’s writing him, even if she may not feel for him what he feels for her.
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Dear James,
There will always be a tender friendship between these two. But, that’s another story. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s some powerful jealousy he’s got going.
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Yes and no, Alice. 😉
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True. He still has feelings for her.
Tough to forget the love of our life…
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Dear Anita,
Ulrich does have powerful feelings for her, but he will move on. I promise. Thank you and a happy belated Valentine’s Day to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ulrich would do well to take his friend’s advice, but that wouldn’t make much of a story, would it?
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Dear Liz,
This is the beginning of the sequel to PSKFM. You’ll be happy to know the author didn’t leave him high and dry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Liz,
Without tension it’s Village of the Happy People, isn’t it? (and boring) 😉 Thank you.\
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This really tugged at my heart strings. Such an emotive piece of writing!
Best wishes
Edith
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Dear Edith,
Happy for your tugged heart strings. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There is such longing in this. Nice distant link to the prompt too 🙂
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Dear Anna,
I do try to keep my links to the prompt distant. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope Ulrich manages to let the bitterness go, as well as his lost love, before it eats him up. Evocative characters as always Rochelle.
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Dear Iain,
Without giving much away, I will tell you that Ulrich will manage to let go of his bitterness and he and Havah will remain friends. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ach. Heartache and loss, and one must learn, indeed, to let it go. Tough to do.
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Dear Linda,
It is hard to let go. Not to worry. Ulrich will manage. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I hope Ulrich manages to move on and find happiness. Beautifully written as always.
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Dear Jen,
As I just told Linda. Ulrich will find happiness but I don’t want to give too much away. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The first lines really appeal to the senses. His being delirious for them is an admission of his true feelings
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Dear Larry,
He did wax a bit sarcastic with ‘delirious’ didn’t he? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS I just fixed your link. Apparently you didn’t type in the correct URL and it just came back to one of my pages.
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Thanks. I copied and pasted everything and maybe there was a mistake
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oh no… that is not possible. letting go doesn’t happen on command… Love how well the pieces of your book is a whole story in itself.
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Dear Björn,
I’m happy to know this works as a stand alone. Nope…letting go doesn’t happen on command but I think Ulrich will find a way in From Silt and Ashes. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Poor Ulrich! It may be better for him not to read about how Havah is doing.
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Dear Magarisa,
Although Ulrich is singed around the edges, he and Havah will remain friends. But the rest is in the novel. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It seems that Ulrich is not meant for her, this time round. That is his penalty. Well at least that is how I interpreted this interesting snippet of flash fiction.
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Nothing worse than unreciprocated love. Beautifully written
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There is much in this short – love, jealousy, anger and regret. It all flows through so naturally.
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haven’t quite got the image on the link thing figured out yet…
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Such a deep tangible sense of longing in this story, it is especially hard when it’s clear that the longing will perhaps remain just that.
Got to read your books. 🙂
Beautiful, eloquent writing, as always.
Best wishes,
Moon
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Loved this story of a love story that could never see the light of the day.
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Time to leave the past behind and move on methinks, although that is easier said than done.
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The intensity of his longing was palpable.
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Lovely sense of longing here – poor Ulrich, too gentlemanly too forget her, too obsessed to let go. Bless him. At least he didn’t try to come between Havah and Arel or damage their relationship. Sensitviely written and very appropriate for a post that appeared on Valentine’s Day!
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Ah the after taste of love and longing. Bitterly sweet writing, Rochelle.
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Such a lovely, bittersweet story. Made me think of the Adele song Someone Like Me, very understated like that. I find myself wanting to know more about their relationship.
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Rochelle, I could feel is want and anger, too. Poor Ulrich! It must have been hard in those days to be so far away and correspondence slow. Nicely done.
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It sounds like his longing is turning to bitterness. I hope he can take his house mate’s advice.
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Dear Ali,
Of course, I don’t want to give it all away, but suffice it to say Ulrich will move on. 😉 How that happens…well you’ll just have to read my books.
Shalom
Rochelle
PS I did find your comment in my spam folder. Fortunately I check it often. Thank you.
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WordPress said nothing was wrong. Akismet said nothing was wrong. Today it’s mysteriously working again!
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long distance relationshhip almost always doesn’t work. it’s just the way it is. people grow apart.
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Dear Plaridel,
In this instance, it’s more than distance that’s come between them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully told, Rochelle. So touching. It’s so hard to let go of someone you love…
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Many thanks Luccia. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, hi. How would you like to be a guest blogger on my blog? If so here is my business email: mooresmyths@comcast.net
Phyllis
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You’ve got mail, Phyllis. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I will check it out this afternoon.
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You pack in so much emotion in this – the warmth of the secret kiss and the bitterness at having lost his love. Ulrich does need to move on if he’s not to be a sad and bitter old man. So well done.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Trust me, the author didn’t leave him there long. 😉 But he will always have a spot in his heart for her and she for him. 😉 More than that is in my books. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Curly Temmplestein W(T)F,
I love his sarcasm (a man after my own heart). It must be heartbreaking to know your sweetheart is in another country making navel lint with another man. I wonder if there’s a Beatles song about that?
Simon (Paul) Soundman
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Dear Simon (Paul) Soundman,
I’ll have to do some research to answer your question re the Beatles. Perhaps Lint it Be, always misunderstood by the populace. 😉 Ulrich can wax sarcastic from time to time. One of my favorite characters in the books. Thank you for taking time out from your navel lint harvesting.
Shalom,
Curly Templestein W(T)F
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Lint it Be? I like that. You don’t want to harvest too early. It’s best to “Let It Bloom” first.
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Not easy to let go is it? Loved the vivid imagery in this one 🙂
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Dear Dahlia,
Letting go is always tough. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As always, love reading your stories. My first attempt at linking my story was a failure (typo!), so I had to redo – success.
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Dear Candy,
I’ve removed your unsuccessful link so it’s all good. 😉 Thank you re my stories.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent story telling as always Rochelle. You pack many emotions into your 100 words and much back story.
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Dear TRG,
You could say that after almost 15 years with these peeps, I now them well. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ulrich was one of my favorite characters. Thanks for bringing him back for a moment.
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Dear Dawn,
True story. One editor turned my first book down because Havah married Arel instead of Ulrich. 🙂 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh my…that seems a little extreme. We can’t help who we love 😉
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True. And clearly that editor didn’t understand who Havah was or what she was about.
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Maybe he identified with Ulrich and felt spurned. lol
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Actually the editor was a she. She complimented me on the accuracy of the history but thought Havah was above Arel intellectually and had more backbone. Again she didn’t understand. 😉
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I was surprised at first that she didn’t marry him, but happily surprised. It would have been such a cop out for her to marry him, he had money, took care of her, and adored her, but that would have been the easy way out and too predictable. It would have fallen in line with so many stories we’ve read before had it played out like that.
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Sounds a bit like unrequited love.
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Dear Colline,
Very much so. Thank you for reading.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Longing and distance make for the most painful love. Hopefully the woman you gave him more than returns his love. I feel for him.
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Dear Fatima,
I can assure you, that the lady he ends up with does indeed return his love. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gosh I can really feel his pain here Rochelle
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