...into Hate, Into Refusal, Against Hope And

"kent?" I Say, And My Voice Seems To Have To Rise From Inside The Fog, Taking Forever To Get From My Brain To My Mouth. "yeah?" "promise You'll Stay Here With Me?" I Say. "i Promise," He Whispers.

I Reach Out And Grab Her Wrist. It Feels Impossibly Tiny In My Hand, Like This One Time I Found A Baby Bird Near Goose Point, And I Picked It Up And It Died There, Taking Its Final Gasping Fluttering Breaths In My Palm.

No One Had Ever Told Her This Basic Fact: Not Everyone Got To Be Loved.

He Was Still In Love With You, Anyway.

I Will Make A Pact With You: I Will Do It If You Will Do It, Always And Forever. Take Down The Walls.