Sterli

ai

he door when it

at on, and the drizzle had not touched

rk wooden b

tly of myrrh and pine. Carved into the lid was the same crest I ha

e box up to him.

n't heard in it before. "My family has almost n

d his eyes wen

e," he said. "Whatever happens

y of th

ey without moving his face. Now he was putting

is." I tried to give it

ep

e wood. The cold of his skin went up my arms, and under

r tapped

safe," Ju

and was gone, the way he did ever

my chest while the car

ed the

n faded violet velvet.

t with cloudy stones that took the light

lid, cut with the

worked so fine they look

the town, older than the state. To a pawnbro

heavier

n a cold house had handed me everything his fam

pushed the box down t

nd looked out at

terlings. I had to fix this and go back to

oing to le