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I can barely rehter sounds like

“Some of us need our beauty sleep,” I taunt back

“I’ll say,” Jamie comments, and Alexei s to do with Ja Instantly, es

He looks at Alexei “Don’t make me hurt you”

Alexei s I would welcome more”

He means it, and so the next punch is slow but steady It’s like watching two fighters wearing training wheels I’er, faster I’ress

But I’ happy he’s alive

The slap of skin against skin echoes through the stillness In the distance, a bird calls As the fog lifts, a pair of bald eagles swoop across the sky I’ve seen their big nest on the other side of the island, near the steep stone cliff and rocky ledge They’ve spent their , fat sal to the nest Safe Sound Free

Not for the first time, I find myself officially envious of birds

My brother stuain his balance He’s still too thin and far too weak

“Jaest

“I just woke up,” he tells me as he slaps at Alexei’s broad shoulders one more time

“Good,” Alexei says as if he hasn’t heard ain”

“Jamie,” I say, “you don’t want to push it”

“No, Gracie” My brother stops and whirls on me “That’s exactly what I have to do”

He sounds like Dad, which , so I ease away fro, so I’esture toward the tall pine trees that surround us

“Don’t go far, Gracie!” Alexei yells as I move toward the shelter of the trees

There is no place far enough

It’s not a forest—that isn’t the right word But that’s how I’ve grown to think of the tall trees that grow straight into the air froround is covered in moss, and it cushions my footsteps I feel like the hunter for once Not the hunted I only wish this feeling could last

Finally, the trees stop, and I step out froe rocks that are covered by receding waves The air is too cold The sky is too overcast And,color You wouldn’t think it possible Water is water, after all But instead of the cool blue of the Mediterranean I’ray as the sky, and that’s how I know for sure how far we’ve coives h