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My aped at his words "Are you for real?"

He blinked at me "What do you mean?" he questioned in a low voice

With a tentative hand, I reached out to cup his cheek His skin felt so warh, sometimes it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that a , co to risk his life to save uarded Whereas I freely spewed my emotions when I probably should have teht words to respond to me "When it comes to me, I think your sweet nature is far too coive ht I would do it again, for you or anyone else who needed rown up in a rough, s were squelched for fear of see unmanly But at the saht hi else

Rev drew in a ragged breath "I just want you to see the realat lasses"

I shook , I wish you could see the real you, so you would believe me" As I swept the wet strands of hair out of his face, I smiled "Maybe I was meant to save you"

"Excuse me?"

"I believe in my heart of hearts that you were meant to saveyou what a wonderful person you are, regardless of what the negative voices in your head tell you"

Rev sets you off ain, I splashed water at him "You’re i about you, Annabel Percy" He held out his hand "Come on We should head back Breakneck will haveyou here when you’re supposed to be recuperating"

As I slippedme here"

"You’re welcoh it defied reason, my heart did a funny little flip-flop that was usually reserved for ht any further, I pushed it out of my mind as I walked out of the water

THIRTEEN

REV

As we started our journey back through the woods, Annabel remained quiet and contemplative Of course, there was already a noticeable difference in her--a peace that she hadn’t shown before she had gone into the water I was sure she was trying to sort through her feelings Even as a kid, I re overwhelmed by what I had experienced Children seemed to be able to appreciate the unexplainable better than adults I was sure that as a person of science Annabel was struggling very hard to find a rational explanation for what she was feeling

Out of nowhere, a keening anih the silence It came from somewhere to the left of us "What is that?" Annabel whispered