“I was wondering…can I stay with you? Here? In your apartment?” Billy’s mouth didn’t move but his eyes did, tracking across her face, a flash of his old light behind them. “Probably won’t be much of a roommate,” she laughed. “I definitely won’t be paying any rent, might keep some strange hours, eat your food. And I know I come with baggage.” She gestured to the backpacks on the floor, but they both knew that’s not what she meant. “But it’s not like it’ll put you out that much, ’cause, you know, um, like, I’ll be dead by the end of the week.” Billy swallowed. “Is that a yes?”
