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A breeze through the trees and a stray strand of her hair drifts across her dark eyes I er to trace her cheek as I tuck the loose piece behind her ear A red path lights up her skin froainst my heart

I unstrap the backpack I had attached behind E it onto my shoulder, then offer reen forest and the seyo first?"

An eyebrow raises Ereed to this hike is huge "Are you sure?"

She wipes her hands along her jeans "Yeah I need to do this If you can apply to college and Olivia can fight the cancer for as long as she did and Eli can take a bullet, I can hike in the woods Besides, I took on the woods in the dark for a few seconds that night I left Olivia’s If I could do that then, I can do this now"

"All right"

She goes in and I’h We can only walk in tandelimpse of her face shows strained panic, buther fears

A cloud blocks the sun and the forest darkens Eot in," I say

Emily stops so quickly that I almost ram into her She spins on her toes "Got into what?"

By the excite in her eyes, she knows, but I say it, anyway "Don’t go crazy onGreen once a week for one class that has to be taken there"

Despiteon her feet "What are youin"

"Special education"

Emily squeals Squeals Then throws herself atinto ers into her silky hair and keep her locked in the hug "I’ve ers across my face "I’ve missed you, too"