ent d

opening, I woke to seventee

ar like clockwork since I left-my birthday and Christmas-respecting my need for distance

my gut, I hit the

e first ring. "Wre

What's

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

n hard on the edge of my bed, phone pr

w b

bleeding, they had to do surgery. He's stable but... they're t

ll word to carry

myself say. "I'll be t

ef tangled in her voice. "

came out sharper than I inte

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

ad to g

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

f think about who

gly empty highways, of forests growing denser and mountains looming larger, o

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

she wh

', I told her firmly.

me. I wasn't sure

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

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

ed by pack money that ensured our people got the best care with

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

saw me, tears spilling do

id I

e. She smelled like lavender and pack and childhood, and something cr

is

g at her eyes. "He woke up an hou

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

warm, and his smile, though strained with

oved to his bedside, taking his hand. His grip wa

to swerve, but..." He gestured vaguely at his batte

ite myself, despite the tears prick

hand. "I'm too stubborn to di

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

in my father's eyes. Th

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

" I told her. "Get s

't lea

f anything changes." I touched her a

"Your brother's at the hou

n I'd been dreading.

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

eyes, just f

felt

uried beneath my ribs. The bond-dormant for so long I'd almo

s flew

as t

way, frozen mid-step, staring

er V

ead creased with lines that hadn't been there before. Dark circles shadowed his steel

a man who hadn'

an being eaten ali

e a prayer, like a curse, like somethi

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

of the man who'd broken my heart,

o, Sk