Page 1 (2/2)

He shakes his head "No Believe me, it's too late But there is someone else Learn from me You have a real chance at happiness now Take it"

My turn to shake my head "If you mean Stephen-"

"No Not Stephen There is another You knoho it is" He stops, tilts his head as if listening He nods "I only have a few ar I know you've been wondering whether you will always be stronger than vath you need is within yourself You are right about Culebra He has found newfor his life with Adelita He has found a way to make up for past mistakes He has finally found peace Make sure he understands he is not to blame for what happened to me He needs to concentrate now on the future Let the past die"

I tiltat the hospital? You were unconscious the entire time"

"All the sahts Loud and clear In fact, it was those thoughts that kept pulling hs "Your will is too strong I was relieved when they sent you home"

"I don't understand," I say while , of course you do You know

"It was my time, Anna"

Anger wells up, and with it, fear Fear of losing a friend Fear of losing Max "No I don't want you to go"

"It's too late It's a tribute to your power that I was allowed to hang around this long To say a proper good-bye I'll miss you, Anna"

"No" I lunge forward on the bed, reaching for his hand

It slips through

He smiles a sloeet smile and raises his hand in farewell

And then before I can reach out again, he is gone

FUNNY HOW SOME DREAMS ARE FLEETING AS SPRING snohile others stay with you long past waking It's been that ith the "dreaht Max died Only it wasn't a dream, was it?

It's all I think about on e to et there