‘I don’t want to be alive because of him.’ ‘Then stay alive because of me.’ I drew in my breath and pulled my deepest secret free. ‘See, I’m not as strong as you are, Claire. I don’t think I can stand to be left behind again.’ She closed her eyes, and I thought she had drifted back into sleep, until she squeezed my hand. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘But I hope you realize I may hate you for the rest of my life.’ The rest of my life. Was there any other phrase with so much music in it? ‘Oh, Claire,’ I said tightly. ‘That’s going to be a long, long time.’
