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And pointing it at my heart

Twenty-Three

These letters are all I have left

26 friends to tell my stories to

26 letters are all I need I can stitch theether to form planets and solar systems I can use letters to construct skyscrapers and s, and ideas that arebut letters to live Without them I would not exist

Because these words I write down are the only proof I have that I’m still alive

It’s extraordinarily cold this ested we make a smaller, more low-key trip to the compounds earlier in the day today, just to see if any of the civilians see to wonder if Kent and Kishi the people in secret They must, after all, have to have so that ties theround But of course, these are all assurow food out of thin air

I quickly address my men; instruct them to disperse and remain inconspicuous Their job is to watch everyone today, and report their findings directly to one, I’hts It’s a dangerous place to be

God, she see a hand down ainst my lips I could feel her I could really feel her Even thinking about it nowto do if I keep having such intense dreams about her I won’t be able to function at all

I take a deep, steadying breath and focus I allow my eyes to wander naturally, and I can’t help but be distracted by the children running around They seee way, it makes me sad that they’ve been able to find happiness in this life They have no idea what they’ve missed; no idea what the world used to be like

Sos

I hear a strange, labored sort of panting; I turn around

It’s a dog

A tired, starving dog, so thin and frail it looks like it could be knocked over by the wind But it’s staring at

I want to laugh out loud

I glance around quickly before scooping the dog into ive my father any more reasons to castratelike this

That I would play with a dog

I can already hear the thingscreature over to one of the recently vacated housing units--I just saw all three families leave for work--and duck down behind one of the fences The dog seeh to understand that now is not the tilove and reach into ; I hadn’t had a chance to eat anything before our early start today And though I haven’t the faintest idea what dogs eat, exactly, I offer the Danish anyway

The dog practically bites off my hand

It chokes down the Danish in two bites and starts licking ainstinto the warhter that escapesin so long And I can’t help but be a animals wield over us; they so easily break down our defenses

I runits ribs jut out at sharp, unco doesn’t seeht now Its tail is wagging hard, and it keeps pulling back fro to wish I’d stuffed all the Danishes insnaps

I hear a gasp

I spin around

I ju for the sound It seemed close by Someone sawaway, her body pressed against the wall of a nearby unit

"Hey!" I shout "You there--"

She stops Looks up

I nearly collapse

Juliette

She’s staring atat s are suddenly round, unable to form words I don’t even knohere to start There’s so much I want to say to her, so much I’ve never told her, and I’m just so happy to see her--God, I’m so relieved--

She’s disappeared

I spin around, frantic, wondering whether I’ve actually begun to losestill sitting there, waiting forwhat on earth just happened I keep looking back at the place I thought I saw her, but I see nothing

Nothing

I run a hand through ry with myself that I’m te to me