Page 7 (2/2)

AFTER CUTTING OPEN two boxes to find her purse and keys, I finished loading up all the boxes while she went to turn in everything to the leasing office, and ere finally on our way back to Thatch Well, after we stopped to fill up her car with gas since she’d forgotten to, and gotten her coffee The drive only took a little over three hours, and then ere pulling into the toe’d grown up in Small in size and population, but full of memories that hit me hard the second we’d rounded the massive lake that hid our town, and I wondered how Grey was doing now that ere here

She’d only been able to handle being here for a little over athe winter break a handful ofso much better before that, to the point where she had been the one to bring up ht after the school year had started, I couldn’t help but remember how she’d said she was scared to coht now, she’d be gripping Ben’s ring that hung on the chain around her neck What I didn’t knoas if she was happy to be re times with him here, or if the memories were all too much

And a few minutes later I had my answer

At the last second, she took the exit toward the cemetery, and I cursed and hit the brakes so I could follow her By the tiotten out of the rented truck, she’d already found his headstone She stood there for a fewas she clutched at the necklace before she suddenly fell to her knees I took a couple steps toward her before stopping myself, and ran ainst the truck

She hadn’t been back here since the funeral, so I knew she needed this, and she needed to do it alone But for her, and for me, I needed to be here for when she was ready to leave

My throat tightened when her cries reached ht with one I hated that she was in pain I hated that it felt like there was nothing I could do to help her

My head snapped up seconds before Grey sluainst my chest, andwe’d been there, but her face was red and ith tears Her eyes looked vacant as she took in where ere standing, and even though her breaths were shallow, they were even

"How is he?" I asked a few minutes later, and her eyes slowly moved to look up at me

She stared for countless ood"

I nodded and lowered my voice to a whisper "And how are you?"

"Broken," she answered iht where you should be"

A faint s "How are you?"

I’ht I break a little more every ti you than I have since Ben died I want to ive fking anything to take his place just so you could be whole again Looking into her honey-gold eyes, I shrugged "I’"