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"Sarah," I say into her ear "I’ve missed you so, so, so much"

"I can’t believe you’re here This can’t be real"

I kiss her again, and I don’t stop while I twist us both around and around until the ropes above her separate Sarah pushes off from the seat and lands in my arms I kiss her cheeks and her neck, and she runs her hands over ers

I set her down and she says, "Soh-guy-on-the-run look What do you think? You into it?"

"I a her palms to my chest "But you could be bald for all I care"

I take a step back to cehtness of the stars behind her, the tilt of her winter hat Her nose and cheeks are red from the cold; and as she bites her lower lip and stares at ht about you every single day, Sarah Hart"

"I proht about you twice as much"

I lowerridiculous grins until I ask, "How are you? What are things like for you around here right now?"

"Better now"

"It’s so hard being away froers "I’ about what it feels like to touch you and hear your voice I’ve coht"

Sarah cups my chin and runs her thumbs over my lips "I’ve sat inwhere you are All I needed to knohich direction and I would’ve started to drive"

"I’ht in front of you," I whisper

She drops her hands "I want to coo on like this"

"It’s way too dangerous We just finished battling fifty Mogs over at Saht now I can’t put you in the middle of all this"

Her shoulders shake, and tears dot the corners of her eyes "I can’t stay here, John Not with you out there andif you’re dead or alive"

"Look at oing to die Knowing that you’re here waiting for ether Soon"

Her lip quivers "It’s so hard Everything is awful right now, John"

"Everything’s awful? What do youhateful things about you, and they say a lot of things about me, too"

"Like what?"

"That you’re a terrorist and a murderer and you hate the United States Guys at school call you naerous and I’ain no matter what; and as an added bonus, there’s a reward on your head, so people are always talking about shooting you"

She puts her head down "I can’t believe you have to put up with all that, Sarah," I say "At least you know the truth"

"I’ve lost almost every friend I had Plus I’m at a new school where everyone just thinks I’m this weirdo"

I’m devastated Sarah was the h School Now she’s an outcast

"Things won’t always be this way," I whisper

She can’t hold back the tears any longer "I love you so et out of this mess Maybe you should turn yourself in"

"I’et out of it Of course ill My one and only love, Sarah I proet better"

But the tears don’t stop "How long do I wait, though? And what happens when things do get better? Will you go back to Lorien?"

"I don’t know," I finally say "Paradise is the only place I want to be right now, and you’re the only person I want to be with in the future But if we’re able to soo back to Lorien But I don’t knohen that will be"

Sarah’s phone buzzes in her pocket, and she pulls it halfway out to check the screen

"Who’s texting you so late?" I ask