Page 59 (2/2)

He hesitated, then shook his head

“Two days ago, you couldn’t choose what you wanted to eat fro you’ve done since then has been your choice, Aleks That’s not a sign of someone who’s broken”

“But I’m so scared,” he admitted

“You’re not alone in that I’m scared shitless” He seeers down his te else “Do you kno many people never have to deal with even an ounce of what you’ve had to since you were a little boy?”

“But I let those men hurt ht back I never even tried to run,” he whispered

“You did fight, Aleks… in the only way you could… by surviving Those men tried to break you They probably think they succeeded But look where you are Not only did you get out and start living your life, you’re about to go back into that world to bring so ‘fuck you,’ I don’t knohat is”

He dropped his eyes and crossed his arht “Fuck them,” he suddenly said so quietly, I al from him, but I couldn’t help but s it

Like he was just now realizing it was his choice, his right to say the word

“Fuck them,” he repeated, a little more loudly this time His eyes lifted to meet mine

“Fuck ’em,” I confirmed

“Fuck them,” he said firaze so he was looking out at the ocean “Fuck you!” he suddenly screaain, I stood behind him and wrapped my arms around his upper chest and droppedinto ain He was hoarse when he finally stopped, then he sluainst me

“Better?” I asked as I pressed a kiss against his temple

He nodded “I hate that word, by the way”

“My esicles or fiddlesticks when she was upset… she had a whole catalog of non-swear sords”

I could see enough of Aleks’s face to see him smile “I think I would have liked your mother a lot”

I felt a pang of sadness that he’d never get to meet her “She would have loved you,” I said

“Will you tell me more about her someday?”

I wanted to ask him if we had a someday, but then remembered I already knew the answer to that I was saved frohtthe small ay that led to the back patio that bordered the roo out of the bushes