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Every groom has a different pastel, cotton-candy-colored tie My reen tie, and Akara’s pastel pink They’re helping us so e arrive, we’ll just slip right in and carry on

Except the stor up Rain rolls down the glass I stare out of, and high winds thrash suitcases off carts, lying sideways on the tarmac

This is going to be the hardest call I’ve ever made in my life

And I don’t want to make it

I wish to God I didn’t have to

My finger presses his number, a thousand pounds of lead in my stomach And I lift my phone to my ear

He picks up on the first ring “I’ at it all night I know my twin brother

“What’s it say?” I ask, choked

The line is loud with our pain

“It ht “It could pass through in enough time”

“Thatcher” My voice breaks I pinch et the words out “I’ies like a cathartic release, but it’s not enough to take away the iron fist around ans

Thatcher sniffs loudly, a sharp sound in his throat like he’s holding back tears

I catch Jane’s soft, consoling voice in the background “I’m here”

I s ht “I’m so sorry”

“No, I’m sorry,” Thatcher chokes out

“What do you have to be sorry about?” I question,“Huh? You’re not the oneThis is really fucking happening

“It’s out of your control,” Thatcher says in a deep, shaking breath “And I’m sorry if you think I’m pissed at you—I’m not You know I can’t be, not for more than a second”

I wipe the wet streaks off my face “I want to be there”

“I want you here”

Tears well up again Heaviness bears down on my chest “I physically can’t make it”

“I know It’s okay”

I shake my head to myself

I up with so every er than friendship or fa deep and unseen For the rest of our lives, we’ll be tied together in this world And I’est moments of his life