te, violent act of folk magic. It required a s

lle watched, her arms crossed.

jar on the dirt floor. The shard was sharp. Wit

up, dark an

ned in shock. "Wh

t, right over his heart. The blood smeared on his shirt. I began to recite the words

With my pain, I set you free. T

d look in my eyes. He thought it was a murder-suici

ant, thrumming connection to him, the background noise of his emotions that h

re even now," he muttered, more to himself than to me. He grabbed Gabrie

He told me later that he glanced at a bridal shop as they drove past, and a memory hit him like a

ething. He ran back to the trailer, not for his guitar, not for his c

small, silver locket I always wore, the one he'

of him, taken years ago, back when he smiled

saved him out of pity. I had

the locket clutched in his hand, and finally und