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And love I’ve found that, too

No longer do I fear No longer do I let others define irla woht to survive Which makes me not that much different from anyone else

I’m human, with or without HTS

Thesafer in large numbers Some returned to families and homes and tried to pick up the pieces of their old lives Others float, noes of society And then so their own definition of normalcy

Caden must feel my stare He looks up, and a brilliant smile breaks out across his face Ime

"Hey" He sets down the ax and coht you some coffee"

He takes the cup with one hand and wraps his other arm around my waist "I don’t need that" He doesn’t even take a sip before giving low at lance at the pile of wood he’s cut "How long until you’re finished?"

"I could stop right now" He smiles that s up at hi him "I don’t want to be a distraction"

He chuckles "Yes, you do"

Suddenly a distant shout fros out

I tear ers lacing with hbors stop by often Even though we’re apart bythe people out here Soreat deal of persecution lingers back hoht Not even in a year

But here, where everyone forges their way, for the ment is reserved for actions Not words Not e’re reputed to be or have done, but e really are Hoe live is what aze lands on our visitor I don’t recognize him at first as he shuts the door of a beat-up truck Then it clicks He’s thinner than I’ve ever seen hi his shoulders I break free fro his na,tihter twists into a sob "Only forever"

Pulling back, ht and shrewd as I re me, but then he’s always been able to do that Seeup to do"

I nod jerkily, feeling so ridiculously happy "I didn’t know you were co your eaze slides to Caden, who has coh our reunion Mitchell unwraps one arm from around me and stretches a hand out to shake Caden’s hand "I had to uy in your life"

"Mitchell, this is Caden" I take a breath "My fiancé"

Mitchell stares back and forth between us ide eyes

"Yeah You ood news is that you’ll be here for the wedding" I watch my brother’s face, suddenly nervous at how he’ll react "It’s next week"

He pullsyou away"

I bury ainst his chest, my sainst him "I’d love that"

I come up for air and look betweeninside me as I wonder just how I arrived at this , I lift my face to the wind, to the open sky I don’t even feel the cold