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But I--

We ain’t gonna argue this, he says

I gotta go, I says

As Ion a sec, I-- He almost but don’t ize to you Fer the way I bin actin since you saved me from Freedom Fields Turnin away fro is, after Ma died, I only had one thing to do an that was pertect my sisters Make sure you survive I had to be the front line Stand in front of you an take the shot, like with Pa

You knoe don’t talk about that, I says

Night-tiin his grief At us At hisself Why should we live when she was dead? Where’s un? My knife? Where’d you hide ’em this time? Don’t lie to me, son, don’t s, like try an race you to the bridge? It’s becuz I need to git there first, says Lugh Front line, you see? It’s all I know But when I got took, you er Smarter An I’m proud of you But I bin feelin, I dunno … useless But no ed everythin

An I know the e, when I was holdin on so tight to you I bin there h, I know that moment When death leans in to kiss you, to take you, when it’s so close you can smell its breath An you say no No, you sonofabitch, you will not have me this time An you want life so bad an you pull yerself back into it an suddenly everythin’s so clear

He’s starin at in into his arot it, he says That’s it ezzackly Yer th’only one who’d kno to say it

Saba? It’s To the trees Can I talk to you?

Not now Toh turns on him, impatient

There’s a moment’s pause You cain’t read his face in the shadow of the trees Sorry, he says Then he’s gone

He’s stuck on you, says Lugh You took his hand today He’ll take that as encouragement

We ain’t talkin about him, I says We’re talkin about you

Yeah, well … today ood ords, he says I realized I want so much, Saba The sky above my head an the sun an the stars an … I wanna feel the earth beneath my feet, in my hands It’s so little but it’s so much, y’know, it’s … it’s everythin An yer everythin to otta know that

He pulls me into his arms an we hold fast to each other

Tears heat ot no idea I’h I never meant to I bin selfish an stubborn Not jest about Jack, but--