A Family Likeness ". . . it could never be lost." Listen to the story being read by a human by clicking below: This Link Takes You to a Human-Read Version of the Short Story A Family Likeness By JACQUELINE ROY Before you read, Discuss the role played by support of friends and time in healing the painful emotions connected to great disappointment or loss. "Livy, do you think you'll feel like coming out on Friday?" asked Melanie hesitantly. She'd been building up to asking for at least ten minutes, though she didn't know why she couldn't even ask a simple question anymore. Olivia didn't answer; she merely shook her head without bothering to look up. They continued to walk along the road in uneasy silence. Melanie was getting tired of trying to get things back to normal. Patience didn't come naturally to her and she couldn't get used to having to think about every word and action in case Livy was upset by what she said or did. Yet she felt she had to try, because after all, they were best friends, and best friends stood by each other for better or for worse . . . Olivia's whole attitude said very clearly, leave me alone, just let me get on with it, and Melanie was often tempted to do just that. And the worst thing was, she was almost relieved that Livy wanted to be by herself so much, despite the efforts she was making to get her out. She wasn't exactly easy to get on with any more, and she looked so miserable that everybody round her felt miserable too--either that, or guilty because they weren't miserable. Sometimes Melanie wondered what it must feel like to have a parent just die on you as Olivia's father had died on her. But the subject was too big and too awful to be contemplated for any length, and Melanie could only push it to the back of her mind as one of those imponderables, like being put in prison for something you didn't do, or living through a nuclear war. "I wish you would start coming out again," said Melanie, feeling the need to give it one last try. "There isn't any point in moping, he wouldn't have wanted you to . . ." Melanie faltered here; why did she have to mention Livy's father? She might cry or something, which would be awful. But Olivia's face didn't change, she just continued to plod homewards in the mechanical, uninterested way she'd adopted since the funeral last term . . . Melanie suddenly realized it had all been going on for at least three months. How long did the being miserable last? Maybe you never got over it. Melanie became aware that Livy hadn't even attempted to respond to her question. "Aren't you going to say anything then?" she said crossly, though she wanted to be kind. "Sorry," said Olivia. "I just don't want to come, that's all." "OK, fair enough," said Melanie, but she tried to say it gently. They fell into silence again. There was a limit to Melanie's ability to converse with someone who didn't want to talk back--or couldn't talk back perhaps. Vaguely, Melanie sensed ther.