I look at Ballast in the light of the stars, and he looks back. He smooths his thumbs across my cheeks, wiping away the remnants of my tears. I’m stricken again by his scarred eye socket. I lift one hand, touch his scars with gentle fingers. My gut wrenches, and it’s all I can do to keep from crying again. It hurts, that someone I care about so deeply has endured so much pain.
