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Blissfully

Stopped

I have foggy memories for a time I know Mac came and sat with me, wherever I was, somewhere deep in Chester’s Barrons even ca Ibecause Barrons would never holdand big it was and how it felt like he was sending so soraybeyond the veil I couldn’t see past Or didn’t want to Even Jack and Rainey sat innonstop, tuckingon the bed, touching me somewhere

I have clearer memories of Ryodan Each time I awoke, if one of the others wasn’t in the roo Forcingall the hurt go away for a ti me to live

I’d wake up but refuse to opentube if I didn’t eat He’d lift ainst the headboard and pour protein drinks down ed (there was no way in hell I was chewing, cheas a co out of bed and that was a coain and s that happened to me inShazaray place And eventually realized it was because I’d chosen to love the soiven all of yourself to hurts far nities and cruelties of the world It’s pure It’s a gift that gives back tenfold And once you’ve lost it, you can never have it again

In the end, it was both of theray place, I drealass and he was saying Shazam’s naet to hang together anymore didn’t mean I could be a complete jackass or that Shazaether and take on the world again Like superheroes do

He loves you like pi, too, he said Eternally Wake up Seize the day He needs you now There will always be someone who needs you And you’ll always answer the call That’s your place in the Great Slipstream, Dani And you’ve always known it

"It was a lovely service," Mac said as alked through the ce memorial mass at the abbey and buried Dancer and Alina next to Jo, in the private graveyard behind the fortress I still couldn’t believe Jo was gone It seemed like just yesterday I’d seen her at Chester’s, but thanks to soain I nodded I still wasn’t big on talking It seeer every day And finally gaining soht back

"I like the inscription on Dancer’s headstone," Mac said e stooped to place flowers on the stones of three side-by-side graves

ALINA MACKENNA LANE

JOANNA MACLAUGHLIN

DANCER ELIAS GARRICK

I’d chosen it myself: NEVER THE SIDEKICK, ALWAYS THE HERO I’LL SEE YOU IN THE SLIPSTREAM