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I gave hiistered on his swollen face After a nod of affirer over my mouth as discreetly as I could Dustin nodded with a wince, but couldn’t sees seized and tears flowed freely now Had I done it? Did I actually save a child’s life?

Before anyone could ask questions, I excused h people to the exit The nurses, as astonished as anyone, were kicking everyone but the randmother out anyway, so I blended in as the crowd, now hopeful, was ushered out of the tiny cubicle

As I passed Dustin’s chair, I rejoiced that he was no longer in it I didn’t knohat happened, but I didn’t care I beaht up short by a soft, feoing Turning around, I s an old friend when I saw you in there I’m so sorry I --"

"Stop," she said, her voice cracked, her cheeks flush "It was you Mom saw you pick up Dustin’s hand She sahat you did"

"What?" I asked, backing away froht my shoulders in her hands "I knohat you are I was listening that night when you told Jessica" Her sadness returned with the thought of her departed sister "She was just scared, Charley She was just, I don’t know, a stupid kid"

"Willa, I was kidding that night You kno kids joke around about those things"

"Five o, I would have believed you" She put a hand on ard "Not anymore I knohat you did How can I ever repay you?"

Jessica put a cool hand on my shoulder "Tell her I love her Please, Charley I will never ask anything of you again We were not on the best of terms when I passed I just want her to know that I love her"

I crossed my arms and put my hands on Willa’s "She sent me here, you know She’s the one who saved Dustin If not for her, I would never have known about him"

She covered her mouth with both her hands as a sob racked her slender body She looked like a pixie with short brown hair and big brown eyes She was always so stunning

"Oh,

"She wants you to know that despite your differences, she loved you beyond measure She always has"

Willa collapsed into h her life depended on it Her mother walked up behind her and put her hands on her shoulders as they shook Willa leaned back

"I will never forget this," she said, kissingtheet this Please tell her I love her, too"

"You just did"

Jessica was sobbing from behind me, her head on my shoulder "And my mom Please, Charley"

"And you, Mrs Guinn Jessica loves you very much"