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We don’t say anything It’s too hard The whistling air goes straight through me, and I wish for warmth I wish for comfortable heat But Cal is not here My brother is dead, and Cal cannot find it in his stubborn heart to watch us bury him

Mom shovels the last bit of dirt, her eyes dry She has no ive We have that in common at least

Shade Barrow, his headstone reads The letters look claritten by so to bury him here He should be at home, by the river, in the woods he loved so well Not here, on a barren island, surrounded by dunes and concrete, with nothing but empty sky to keep him company This was not a fate he deserved Jon knew this would happen Jon let it happen A darker thought takes hold Perhaps this is another trade, another bargain Perhaps this was the best fate he would ever face My s, ould always come to save me, who always knehat to say How could this be his end? How is this fair?

I know better thanin this world is fair

My vision blurs I stare at the packed earth for who kno long, until it’s just me and Farley left in the ce between anger and sorrow The wind ruffles her hair It’s grown longer over the past fewher chin She shoves it away so violently I fear shewith you" She forces out the words

I can only nod "You’ve done enough for us, h I understand"

At that she scoffs "You don’t I couldn’t care less about protecting le tear escapes, but she doesn’t notice "The answer toabout me anymore Then she shakes her head and steps closer "It wasn’t much of a question anyway I knew, deep down I think Shade did too He is--was--very perceptive Not like you"

"I’m sorry for everyone you’ve lost," I say, blunter than I wish to be "I’m sorry--"

She only waves a hand, disy She doesn’t even care to ask how I know "Shade, ht be alive, but I lost him too"

I relint of concern e returned to Tuck He was afraid for his daughter "I wouldn’t be so sure No real father could ever be truly lost to the child he loves"

The wind blows a curtain of hair across her face, al in her eyes Shock--and hope One hand splays across her stoentle The other patsgirl You’re not entirely awful"

Itshe’s ever said to me