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I froze "I’ve only driven the Driver’s Ed car, and that was over two years ago"

"You can do it," he said He opened the door and helped ed around and clinition, adjusted the seat andI learned about driving I pressed on the brake and then pulled the gear into drive, pulling forward I paused at Main Street before driving out of the parking lot "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere Just drive" He reached over and took ht and headed out of town, Weston rested his head against the seat "Everyone was apologizing to me today It felt so weird, because I don’t feel like I lost anything I should feel different Is it weird that I don’t?"

"I don’t kno to feel either I try not to think about it"

"Maybe it’s not acceptable, or maybe others wouldn’t understand" He turned to look at et it We can talk about it to each other"

I waited for hiood on Alder’s pro But I didn’t want to be the first one to say so out loud

He looked up "I’m sorry they were hurt I’m sorry they lost their lives, but I feel sort ofrelieved It feels like such an assle thing to say, but it’s the truth Don’t you feel the salad they’re dead" I took a deep breath "But it’s a relief to know they can’t torture me anymore"

Weston squeezed my hand, and after that We didn’t talk ht lit up on the dash By then ere an hour south, in Stillwater Weston directed as

"You hungry?" he asked

"A little"

"Okay, I’ll grab so Mountain Dew?"

I nodded "Thank you"

He hung the nozzle on the pump, and then ran into the station I stood there, not sure which door to get in When Weston returned, he watched , babe?"

My purpose, where I was, and even my own name were lost on me, because of what had just come out of his mouth I’d heard other couples call each other sweet ters to their children, but no one had calledbut ined what it would feel like, to hear so simple and sweet, and it just came out of Weston Gates’scame out

"Do you want me to drive?" he asked When I didn’t respond, he took another step toward me "Are you okay?"

I took a few quick strides and jus around hishi crackled as he hurried to wrap his arms around me

When I pulled away, he smiled "What was that for?"

"I don’t know I just needed to"

"You should follow your gut ain