ent d

opening, I woke to seventeen

ear like clockwork since I left-my birthday and Christmas-respecting my need for distanc

my gut, I hit th

he first ring. "Wr

What's

motorcycle crash on Route 7. He's... he's in the hospital, sweet

wn hard on the edge of my bed, phone p

ow

l bleeding, they had to do surgery. He's stable but... they're

all word to carr

myself say. "I'll be

ief tangled in her voice.

came out sharper than I int

of careful distance, of phone calls that never lasted more than ten minutes, of finding excuses t

had to

e same girl who left. You're stronger now. Better

lf think about who

ngly empty highways, of forests growing denser and mountains looming larger,

n the land. She'd been quiet for years-subdued, depressed, a shadow of the vibra

, she w

e', I told her firmly.

e me. I wasn't sur

gs. Same ancient oaks shading the sidewalks. Same mix of shops and businesses that c

of motorcycles gleaming in the afternoon sun. I drove past with

ded by pack money that ensured our people got the best care wit

remembered. Older. Gray threaded through her auburn hair, and l

e saw me, tears spilling d

id I w

ce. She smelled like lavender and pack and childhood, and something c

w is

ng at her eyes. "He woke up an ho

ng, with a booming laugh that could fill any room. Seeing him pale and diminished, tubes snaki

warm, and his smile, though strained with

moved to his bedside, taking his hand. His grip w

d to swerve, but..." He gestured vaguely at his batt

pite myself, despite the tears pric

y hand. "I'm too stubborn to d

ed away so long, what had driven me from Ironvale in the first place. My parents

in my father's eyes. T

t. I found my mother in the hallway, leaning against

" I told her. "Get so

't leav

f anything changes." I touched her ar

. "Your brother's at the ho

on I'd been dreading.

into it, suddenly bone-tired. The adrenaline that had carrie

eyes, just

fel

buried beneath my ribs. The bond-dormant for so long I'd alm

es fle

was

rway, frozen mid-step, starin

ler

head creased with lines that hadn't been there before. Dark circles shadowed his stee

a man who hadn't

man being eaten al

ke a prayer, like a curse, like someth

nt a thousand times-what I would say, how I would act. I'd pictured myse

of the man who'd broken my heart,

lo, S