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CHAPTER 1

VANE

I’m lucky to be alive

At least, that’s what everybody keeps telling me

The reporter from the local newspaper even had the nerve to call it a miracle I was "Vane Weston: The Miracle Child" Like the police finding rand universal plan

"Family Survives Tornado"--now, that would’ve been a" orphaned at seven years old

It’s not that I’et that I shouldn’t have survived But that’s the worst part about being "The Miracle Child"

The question

The sa et sucked in by a category-five tornado--nature’s equivalent of a giant blender--get carried over four miles before the massive funnel spit me back out, and only have a few cuts and bruises to show for it? Hoas that possible, when nizable?

The police don’t know

Scientists don’t know

So they all turn toidea

I can’t re

Well, I can’t re useful

I reiant, blank space Like all round

Except one

One isolated memory--and I’e hallucination h the chaos of the storle tear streaks down her cheek Then a chilly breeze whisks her away

She’s haunted my dreams ever since

CHAPTER 2

AUDRA

It was erous it was to call the wind

But I couldn’t let Gavin die

Back then, guarding the Westons consumed every second ofConstantly looking over our shoulders for the co storm We’d holed up in two tiny houses in theour breath The fear hung over us thicker than the clouds

I survived the hardest days by seeking shelter in the sprawling cottonwood trees at the edge of the property Balanced high in their branches, with the breeze sliding across my skin, I could let the world fall away and open e

I never spoke to the wind Just listened and learned

But the songs of the eren’t enough to fill the lonely days So I turned to the birds

Gavin’s nest was hidden in the thin limbs at the top of the tallest tree, tucked safely out of reach of predators But I was a wispy thing, and ile trunk to reach it Inside were three balls of fluff Goshawks--proud and noble, even with their downy gray feathers and open beaks, waiting for their mother to return

I’d never fully connected with a bird on uidance to make them understand me, respond to me, trust me But she was too busy with the Westons And Gavin was different

He never screas did when I came to inspect the nest He just watchedrab him I visited him every day after that, as soon as hisdown the days until his first flight, torn between excite to witness thethe wind, but crushed by the idea of losing my only company My only friend

Brave Gavin was the first to leap

My heart stood still as he propelled hi at the horizon Focused Deterht the draft, and he screeched in triuust of wind knocked hiround

I’d love to say that I didn’t think That instinct took over, clouding out all reason But I knew the risk