a cop kneeled in front of a crying boy, tipping his head up by his chin as the world burned down around them. Both the man and boy painted in side view. I’d recognize that thick, onyx head of hair and defiant set jaw anywhere, even with only a peripheral perspective of him. “Yeah.” “When did you do this?” “Senior year. I must have been feeling particularly grateful for you that day.” “Grateful?” I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Off him. Not even as, in the background, a trailer park and a school went up in flames.