He’d escaped Baddy, and his legs would carry him no further. Thomas’ burden weighed on him, but Bear would never leave him and he’d never leave Bear, especially now. Tear-streaked, trembling, alone save Bear amidst the masses, Thomas was invisible to the world. Vision limited to battering legs, he squeezed Bear and bawled. He’d seen all: Mommy, then Bear; Baddy’d opened both, but repaired only Bear. Thomas would never understand why, or that he’d been allowed to escape, clutching a companion whose insides had been replaced with plastique. His last thought before Bear exploded was, simply, “I want my Mommy…”