Clay
Rain pounds down around us.
Cold.
Heavy.
The kind of storm that turns the entire world gray and wild.
Nobody moves for a few seconds after crawling out of the river.
We’re too exhausted.
Too wrecked.
Too busy realizing we’re somehow still alive.
Russ and Lucas pull Eli farther up the muddy embankment while Miles checks the little girl for injuries.
Nora kneels beside Gabriel, who’s coughing river water onto the grass and swearing under his breath.
Good.
If he’s cussing, he’s alive.
But me?
I can’t look at anything except Hannah.
She’s kneeling in front of me in the rain, both hands gripping my face like she’s terrified I’ll disappear if she lets go.
And the way she’s looking at me right now?
Jesus Christ.
That look could destroy a man.
“You came back. You scared me.”
Her voice breaks on the words again.
Like she still can’t believe it.
Like nobody’s ever come back for her before.
Something inside my chest cracks wide open.
“Hannah…”
Rain drips from her hair down her cheeks like tears.
Maybe some of them are.
I don’t know anymore.
Everything tonight feels too raw.
Too real.
