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“I’ain

Finley

“I couldn’t say I love you…when I wanted to say it,” he murmurs “I didn’t say it how I should have at the island”

“That’s all right I always knew you loved me”

He shakes his head Tucks his chin to his chest, shuts his eyes And then he looks at me It’s quiet in the bedrooht Baby’s in the hallway I can hear heraround

“There’s so I want to tell you, Finny,” he rasps “Before you stay here a long time…”

“What do youthe effects of the marijuana His eyelids are heavy and soely

“I don’t know if I can tell you” He sounds pained, which makes my chest ache

“You don’t have to tellAll I need is to lie here with you You elevate those shoulders, and I’ll keep you wara him Because I’ing pain

“Finley…you remember how you told me…that first time…about your parents?” His voice shakes “Inside the burrow?”

I nod as htens

“You said you like ume candy…and phones with cords…that have colors?”

I nod, s a bit that he remembers

“I like tacos,” he whispers, “and airplanes that can land on water And I really, really love you In college one tiot a date with ets a breath, and smiles a bit despite his heavy eyelids “I liked it It was really fun” His face is relaxed, and his eyes look sleepy So I’m utterly unprepared for what he says next

“When I was in seventh grade, my mom died And this man…orked for ht” His voice cracks there “And my mom…she died from suicide”