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The shaking gets so bad I can’t eventhrough y to lift my hand, let alone attack anybody So I let Rain coverbullets, but she doesn’t seem to mind any of that as she curls up next to me

“Do you want to know a story?” Rain asks softly, and I nod against her chest as she holds me close I haven’t been comforted like this since hfor more of the poison I knoill eventually kill me

“What story?” I mutter

“A fairytale”

I don’t answer, groaning in pain But she hushes ers absent-ers overdown as she speaks in a soft, dreamlike tone

“Once upon a tirandmother And there was also a boy, who lived with an evil uncle They were meant to be married, promised to one another as children”

I settle against her even though convulsions and nervous spas, I can’t help but follow along with the story

“They were ether, but the world threw obstacle after obstacle at theoes on

Her voice drifts on and I listen intently even thoughwith pain and aa fairytale so s nopain inside me

I know her story is about us, but the way she tells it nevere to her speak

I remember all the people who have died, so I can be here today

My parents

Manuel, my cellmate