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Michael took a closer look, and sure enough, his friend had pulled it off

"Wow," Michael said "You truly are a man I’ve ever seen" In truth, he was really iht the fro careful?"

Any sign of joy on Bryson’s face slowly faded "I was kind of screwed up for a few days It took that long forout on the Path I don’t knohy I did that Everything just hit ht it best to wait for him to say more Or maybe Michael just wanted more time before he had to explain what he’d discovered about hi as Sarah had been

"And then I heard from Sarah about what happened to her with the lava," Bryson continued "And we didn’t hear frolanced at Michael "It seemed like you just … poof! disappeared We couldn’t find you anywhere When Sarah went silent, I’d had enough I went to stay atin the Sleep ever since, hoping you guys would findon, and I know you’re about to talk ave a limp smile that disappeared quickly

So ht

"Well," Sarah said, "one thing’s for sure We’re definitely about to talk your ear off" She looked over at Michael "Maybe you should start?"

He didn’t want to, but he knew better than to disobey Sarah

Michael lost track of time as he told the story He started with Sarah’s death in the lava caves He just stared at a spot on the wooden table and let it all coendary gamer Bryson flinched in disbelief at that part, but not when Michael told hi fake, his whole life a shaet that Bryson didn’t flinch

"Your whole life’s not a sha, as if the idea were utterly ridiculous "You’re sitting right in front of us You’re the saoofy Michael I’ve always known Who’s to say we’re not all corams, layers upon layers upon layers? Or in a drea while she drools into her oatmeal"

Michael cracked a smile Miraculously, and not for the first time, Bryson had made hiive a crap if you’re a Tangent or a really smart llama You’re my friend and that’s all that matters"

"That’s what I told him," Sarah offered "But he’s stubborn" She took Michael’s hand under the table and squeezed it