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“You know that to love is both to swim and to drown. You know that to love is to be whole, partial, a joint, a fracture, a heart, a bone. It is to bleed and heal. It is to be in the world, honest. It is to place someone next to your beating heart, in the absolute darkness of your inner, and trust they will hold you close.” - Caleb Azumah Nelson
To my shock, he stretches out to lie down in the grass next to me. Arianna wastes no time adorning him with his own tiny daisy crown. Killian grumbles a complaint but doesn’t stop her from dressing him in flowers. “Now we match,” I whisper to him. “If anyone sees me in this shit, my reputation is ruined.” “You’re the one that laid down. Suck it up.”
Let me hold you. When you wake up screaming, I’ll be there. I’ll fight your demons for as long as you need me to.” “Do you promise?” Willow whimpers. “I swear on my fucking life. No one will ever hurt you again.”
“I am going to break that bastard’s fucking skull. I don’t even need to know what he did to you. He’s already signed his death warrant.”
“You’re here,” I say sleepily. He tosses another log on the fire. “I didn’t want to paint.” “Why not?” “Because Arianna needed me, and I wanted to be with you. That’s more important to me than some stupid paint pallets.”
“You’re human,” he whispers. “Being human doesn’t make sense.” “What do you mean?” “We mourn things that don’t exist and chase dreams that will never materialise. We cry when we’re happy and laugh when we’re sad. Our whole existence is imperfect.”
“Broken wings can still fly. You are living proof of that.” My throat constricts. “All I can do is fall.” “I’ve got you, and I’m never letting go. None of us are. We’re here to catch you if you fall and help you get back up again. That’s what family is for.”
“I want a future here in Briar Valley. I want us to be safe and find our forever.” “You have us.” “For now.” “Forever,” he corrects. “I wish I could believe you, but I’ve come to realise that life is fleeting. Nothing is guaranteed in this world. All we have is this moment.” Micah gently kisses my hair. “That’s why you have to hold on, angel. Hold the hell on and never let go of those who matter. We can make it. I know we will.”
“Get these sons of bitches off my land,” Killian barks. “Show your faces again and I’ll put bullets in them. Welcome to Briar fucking Valley.”
