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The tension in the car throbbed anddeath in the face, I needed reht and there was such a thing as reincarnation or a better life I needed Fox to reive up

Fox slowed for a traffic light His hand disappeared into his pocket and pulled out Clara’s star necklace

I sucked in a huge breath The tinkling pieces of my heart rattled in my chest as he reverently clasped it around his neck He stroked the silver, a look of love and misery on his face

I looked away, unable to bear the sharp arrows of sadness piercing my soul The pain of her death was shared--by a man who’d known her for such a little tireen and Fox sighed heavily Throwing the car into gear, we zoonise

Kilometre after kilometre, we remained in silence Either too wrapped up in Clara to risk speaking or figuring out if our arguh to start anew

He looked so odd, so fierce, wearing a simple silver star Up till now, the only adornment he ere his scars and tattoos, but I knew in my heart he would never take it off Every ti it, I would reo?" I asked as we travelled down roads and through citywhite around the steering wheel "I went to deal with sooosebuht"

"What ed I couldn’t explain the change in hiht--the ease, or relief frohter--rounded than I’d ever seen hirey-white eyes weren’t as haunted, as if he’d decided finally to put his past behind hiht? Can you understand the need to find an outlet froain on the road

"Yes I can understand that"

"Can you understand when I say fighting to me is a medicine? But it’s the pain that’s my salvation I self-harm because I haven’t found any other way to free the darkness inside"

He reached across and stolehard "I’ve self-har time I hate it It fills me with shame, but as much as I want to stop, I can’t I can’t proive it up entirely, but fro to try and find some other way"

He smiled "Clara helped with that, too"

"How?" I barely whispered, too captivated by learning iven me an unlie to self-mutilate disappears"

I didn’t kno to reply I hated the thought of hi hi it for selfish reasons? But then again, I was pleased she continued to help beyond the grave

"Don’t fight He needs you"

Clara’s lyrical voice cah Did you?" There was a difference in hihtness and barely found tranquillity

"No I went to see sooodbye to a past I never wished I lived" Fox squeezedhis hand on the wheel "I went back to Russia"

My heart raced as es of snow and ice

"I killed theon others to fix me and find a curesnapped and fallen fro away the black cloud ofed him back "You’re free?"

His shoulders slumped; he smiled sadly "Not free, but better"

I hated the desolation in his eyes He looked guilty, as if he’d done soinally repaired He couldn’t be further from the truth The fact that he’d tried to heal meant wonders

"Can I touch you?"

His eyes flew to mine His jaw clenched but he nodded slowly

Very carefully, I laid a palh "I’e to say, but you took control and you should celebrate your progress rather than hate that it isn’t cured coentle kiss againstyears and not deserve you" Pulling away, he turned into a driveway of a gated property right on the esplanade of Narrabeen The suburb boasted huge ht across the road froate rolled open The house was a two-story white and glass design The ocean crashed behind us, sounding like e double garage door opened, granting shade and a huge concrete home for Fox’s Porsche

"Where--where are we?" The Northern Beaches were on the opposite end of town to Obsidian I’d lost all bearings while driving through the city

Does he own this, too?

I flicked a glance at the reed to return ho

I didn’t know his favourite foods, or pet peeves, or even his birthday I didn’t know if he was allergic to anything or how iven him my life all because he proved he could love so fiercely

And I’nant with his child

"See, mummy He needs you after all He needs sos She’d taken up residence in my head, and I never wanted her to leave Even if it wasmyself what I needed to hear

"This is incredible"

Fox set any oyle again"