The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1)

by James Islington

The decision may have been made by the few, Diago, but it’s the Will of the many that killed your family.”

“It doesn’t matter how good an actor you are. There’s something about coming home that you can’t hide.”

“Why are you telling me this?” “Because I want you to understand that I hate them just as much as you do.” Eidhin speaks quietly as he looks at me, daring me to protest. I don’t. “I want you to know that you are my friend. That you have my full trust.” “Of course,” I say carefully. “And you have mine.” “No, I don’t.” Eidhin is reproving. Not angry, not hurt. Just knowing. “But that is alright.”

“I envy you, you know. Your capacity to do that. To trust like that.”

“I’m so alone,” I whisper to him. I feel the words with all my hopeless heart.

“Death is only meaningless if it does not change us, Vis.”

“When you are well, we will celebrate him together,” he promises softly.

But if I do that, nothing will change.

let’s gooooooo

I wasn’t a coward, that night at Suus. I was fourteen, and alone, and scared. I wasn’t wrong, to refuse to cede all these years. I needed to keep that part of myself sacred. I needed it to stay me. But that doesn’t mean they are excuses now.

Diminished by time, but legible.

chills