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“To this day I’m—on occasion—” She shakes her head Her eyes dart my way as she picks up her pace “I’m referred to as ‘the mute’ I suppose there are those like Mark who’ve never heard h it’s been years since that ti back as I hang half a pace behind her

“No one here before ” Her words are forceful, almost harsh “Some assumed the stint at sea had ruined my mind, but those who cared to realized that I wasn’t daft I would write a note at odd tih nods and other methods And still…”

She folds her ar “Some treated me as if I couldn’t hear either I’ve been privy to ine Like a priest a bit in that way”

Our path slants down into a grassy valley at the base of the peak, which looks large and dark, then So do mine

“There are others who assume I’m simple,” she continues “Some don’t speak toso They’ve checked the box beside my name that says non-entity”

She looks over her shoulder at me “Do you want to know the truth, Declan? The truth is no one ever courted ot sent off to university, but never me I’m a fixture on this island but I’m never truly seen I haven’t been since Muain It doesn’t matter how e amy voice—because someone like Mark Glass has failed to notice when I use it”

Twenty-Seven

Finley

I tell s rebel Perhaps because of my confinement to the boat for those days, I’ve become a runner of the worst sort When I’m emotional, I flee This is worse than usual, because I’ him

The h my mind—the more I picture him on my heels, his handsome face contorted in shock and dis

I dart up the packed-dirt path as it tilts at the foot of the peak My harsh steps startle a bird I can feeloff my shoes

The trail’s not marked because we locals know it, and we don’t allow the visitors to suht lose hih

I duck under so over the trail and dash around a wide rock When I hear footfall, I move faster

Now he’ll kno irl, but the island’s wretched outcast I’ I can’t na forth anehen I realized a bit earlier he doesn’t know my darkest secret yet He hasn’t heard

Still, I flee him like I should have fled the ot everything to lose, whose life is altered each tiets near him My pack bumps atop my back, and my heart hammers