Unbelievable.
And Olivia—
She’s on the opposite side of the shelter.
As far from me as physically possible.
That shouldn’t bother me.
It does anyway.
I look away first.
Bad sign.
Movement catches my attention a few minutes later.
Olivia carefully untangles herself from the sleeping children around her and kneels beside the little boy from last night.
Two fingers to his neck.
Checking.
Always checking.
Even exhausted, she starts with them first.
Of course she does.
She adjusts a blanket around the smallest girl before quietly slipping outside.
I wait maybe ten seconds before following her.
Cold air hits immediately.
The mountains are pale with frost now, the sky barely starting to lighten.
Olivia stands near the ridge with her arms folded tightly across herself, staring out over the valley below.
She hears my boots crunch against the frozen dirt.
Her shoulders tense.
Just slightly.
Then by the time she turns around, the expression is gone.
Professional.
Calm.
Like last night never happened.
I already hate it.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
