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And finally, for the first time in over a day, Beck touches htly, pulling me in a little closer His voice is the s anyone for anything "It's the only way, Sela Going forith the trial is too risky"

"Leave here forever?" IMy head swivels to look at ain?"

"I'd rather you be living free and with soirl," my dad says simply "It's the best solution"

My head turns back to Beck "So we run?"

His s of bitterness drain fro to lose you over this So yeswe run"

I fall forward into Beck,so my forehead rests in the rip hi breath and whisper, "Then we run"

I'oodbyes It's not been twelve hours since Sela and I decided to run, and I's I want to do with my loved ones into a few days I haven't heard fro him to call at any ot the means and the h for us, and I want Sela and me prepared to run fast

It didn't takeat all to convince William that this was the best decision We met at that Starbucks and sipped black coffee while I told hihter was arrested for murder and I wanted to leave the country with her forever I had to give the man credit: he takes stoicisreatly disturbed by what I told hi--I knew that his love for his daughter would have hi my idea William has seen Sela sunk into despair so brutal that he'd support whatever would give her the best chance at lifelong happiness

And running was that best chance

After Williaht, I expected a bit of aardness between Sela and me I didn't have to rehash all the ways in which she'd pissed ot it She understood

I also think she was regretful

Well, retful for the intention behind her actions, but she understands that she screwed things up for herself when I was the only one at risk It was altruistic though, and I know she did it out of devotion to reed to disappear withetting so that was beyond extraordinary

I did have to h before ent to sleep last night I was lodged deep inside of her,for release and both of us on the brink of letting go I was lying on top of her, our chests pressed tight and ht our faces very close to each other

My lips grazed against hers as I rocked against her "Sela?"

"Mmmm?"

"We're partners," I told her quietly She didn't respond, but I knew she was listening intently because her eyes opened up and glittered with awareness as they locked onto ether, okay?"

"Together," she affirht with each other, and while webehind an entire life--a complete existence--it was forever tarnished and would be a part of a bittersweet past Our future is where true happiness lay for both of us

It was ti our affairs in order

So today I' thethe day with her father, because she too knows ti

While Sela chose to go hang out with her dad at their hoant way I sent a li Caroline I needed a day to decompress from all that happened and I wanted reed, thinking she was helping her big brother out She had no clue I was saying goodbye

The limo driver delivered them both to me at the airport and I then shuttled theo for the day

Ally is obsessed with ani to talk, the words that always came first and easiest were the names of various animals

Dog, pig, goat Ask her what does a cow say, and she'd grin and say, "Mooooo" She also gave an adorable pig snort when proot better with speech and left doaroo, which were obviously harder to say as they had s furry, scaled, or leathery blosso passion I' she becomes a veterinarian Or maybe even a wildlife scientist

Regardless of where my sweet Ally will end up one day, and of which I will never have a clue how she turns out, I' to try to crale day

"Did you know that lehts?" Ally says with confidence as alk along a shaded path through the lemur exhibit I have to admit the furry little rodents--or priet out

"Stink fights?" I ask in disbelief