up on t

asleep on the couch. Under the b

shirt had ridden up a tiny bit and I could see the edge of a tattoo. Or

around my legs like someone tucked it. He must

ridge humming again. That hum is go

hake the couch, and his eyes opened. Right away. Like he wasn't re

oice rough from s

I just... I fell aslee

. Rubbed his face.

u slept. That's... that's good

barely slept last ni

k up. My heart was doing that fast thum

quiet for a minut

" I said. Because 3 AM ma

ea

hat it felt like. To be t

y. Too personal. Too much. We had known each othe

have to-"

ha before me. He... he traded my mom. For a treaty. With the east pack. When I was fou

s. Just

said. Sm

eading a list. "They said it was sickness. But I know. I know it was b

s coming back

. And I meant it. M

ith warm bags getting cold... I thought, not ag

idge h

story. So I just... I reached out. Not far. Just my hand on

k again. Too hungry, too dangerous,

his hand near mine. Close. Not tou

uiet. "I'm not my dad eit

id. And I did

almost touching on a blanket at

oud. On the coffee table

His whole body went tense. That

?" I

dy, blanket falling off. "Jonah's pa

Trucks.

That fast drop aga

here?" My voi

ust boots. "He's trying to... he's trying to show muscle. Because

at me. Rea

he lives ten minutes, I called her. You stay insi

odding too

e stopped. Looked back at me on the couch in his

d down in front of me so we were eye level. S

have to rip every throat on that border myself. You hear me? You are not property. You are

" I wh

ok the edge of my blanket and tucked it tighter around my f

banging open, cold air

hen I went and locked the kitchen door t

rs. The burner phone was dead too,

ouch. Wrapped in th

en far away, maybe, dogs barking. O

ever said that to me before. Jonah always said "don't be dramatic" or "stop o

ait

en numbers - headlights swept across the living

tually stopped for a

g. Passed the house. Dow

her set.

quiet

my knees pulled up, blanket

knock. Not cop k

s me, honey

uge coat, hair in a sleep

oor behind her like she owned the place. "Kael. Sai

d. My voice cracked a

t into a mug from the th

d. "He stands there. Big and scary. And th

ght.

't ask about the blanket tucked or

out himself. Went to the shop in town. The lady there said he stood there for twenty minutes holding up dress

warm. Some

I cry so much now. I used to ne

red, half laughing through t

d, tired r

d cold feet, honey. And no

h

s shoulders now. Or frost. His boots muddy.

I said. Stupi

me, heavy look, checking my face,

eft?" I

said. "They wo

on him, looking at me like I was the only thing keeping hi

go. You two... you two need slee

patting my

r after her. Then h

"I'll stay down here. On the cou

the blanket still tucked around my legs. At his red ears

gain. Like last

nod

th st

feet we