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It was the saot me from the Celia about twelve hours after the ship departed froo, like Finley said Because of the special plane ot to Cape Toithin a day of what happened It was a late debrideood doctor had a 22, so it was a sh the muscle is what snapped my top two little ribs and nicked my shoulder blade as the bullet blew out my back

One of the scientists on board the Celia was an MD doing cancer research based on fish I owe that guyup s of saline for eme full of saline when my blood pressure would drop…which was a lot, I think Dude even rode the Albatross with ot to Cape Town I wish I could tell Finley about it

But I feel so fucking weak Even breathing takes a lot of energy

Next time I openwith Baby “Hey, Baby,” I whisper

Dad’s hand ruffleswater I don’t know It’s kind of funny really I’

“You make me feel…a whole lot better”

“Is that so?” She kissesBut I love you, darling”

I’ to hold on between Tristan and Cape Town, I kept seeing those gold waves—htmyself—and I finally knehat they meant

I lived through overdosing just to fight again to kick up frohtened waves at Tristan When I was trying to hang on until Cape Town, I latched onto the thought that I’d never told Siren how much I really loved her That’s what I told th to hold on, even when it felt so fucking hard

Twenty-One

Declan

“When the plane—” My voice gives out I s, and Finley holds a sports bottle to my mouth

“There you go…”

“When the Albatross landed in Cape Town,” I rasp, “I don’t know I kind of cauess Realized…I didn’t knohat happened with you I thought you ht be dead I don’t remember, but they told me later that I flipped h my hair, but I stop myself in time and shut my eyes a second instead “They said I de furious that you weren’t with me”

It’s nightti in the adjustable bed Dad set up before he left Finley’s got her arhher neck back so she can see es