Obsidio (The Illuminae Files, #3)

by Amie Kaufman

MASON TAKES HER HAND. HOLDS IT TIGHT. SHE SQUEEZES BACK WITH A GRATEFUL SMILE.

BUT WITH HER OTHER HAND—HER RIGHT HAND— SHE STILL HOLDS ME.

shut the fuck uuuppo damn

T’S ALL RIGHT, BABY GIRL,” HE WHISPERS. “IT’S ALL RIGHT.” DONNELLY STANDS VIGIL BESIDE THEM.

NikM: having seen an alternate reality version of you literally die in my arms about 38 hours ago, you think i’d be kinder disposed to you rite now NikM: but god i hate u

use those dimples for good 4 once in ur life

Because they haven’t. They’ve each kissed a version of the other—a version that’s now dead, sealed forever in a parallel universe. But these versions? The ones they’ve known for half a year of teasing and sneaky deals and allegedly broken arms and guerrilla warfare fights for their lives? These versions never have. The moment that sealed them together was with other versions of themselves. These two have never made that silent promise. “Never

’ ” “Nik…,” she whispers, and the dimples die. Minutes pass in perfect silence. “I should go,” he says eventually.

im going to cry

When she doesn’t answer, he pushes to his feet. Reaching down, he rests his hand on her shoulder, lifts it a little higher to smooth back the wisps of hair escaping her braid. But she doesn’t respond, and so he turns and climbs out the hatch, leaving her to her solitude once more.

theyre so sick for this im crying

You love her?”

” “Chum, if these last seven months taught me anything, it’s that you can’t afford to burn time. If you love her, don’t ███ around. Tell her. Tomorrow might take your chance away.”

PAAAAAIIIIINNNNNNN

Did you come to check on me?” “Of course not,” she says,

obviously they want me to kms

They’re both silent a moment. She ducks her head, and when she looks up, grants him the briefest moment’s cease-fire: a hint of a smile. “You did come to see me,” he says slowly. “I didn’t. I didn’t know you were here.” “You said you heard I punched a pilot.” He grins. “You came to see me.”

I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE

And Hanna, something that happens the same way in two universes, in who knows how many universes, that has to mean something. And it did mean something. And you know how I feel about you…”

What we’ve been through together—we’ve seen every part of each other. You’re my one. So let’s live through this and see what the rest of it’s like. Because

i died

I was thinking,” he murmurs. “There’s a billion different versions of you out there, in a trillion different universes. And I still can’t get over how lucky I am that, out of all of those versions, you’re the one that’s mine.”

im alive but im dead