Page 157 of Find My Way Down to You

He smiled patiently. Then he explained to me his time as the ferrier was done. He was ready to move on. He finallycould. He told me why he stayed for so long in the first place.

“To care for them.” Gold glittered in his eyes. “So they did not feel alone or scared after their mortal time ended.”

The souls, like me.

“But why me?”

It made no sense. This was the underworld. There were so many others he could pick.

Again, the corners of his lips lifted. “Because youcare, London.”

He reminded me of that night. When he came to me in the hospital. Of the one thing I asked him to do:

Look after August.

“You wanted nothing else of me,” Cary said, relieved. “I know you will do the same for them. Just like I did.”

It was a lot. What he was asking of me. I knew of the Deathless. I had been in Aides for two years. Well, longer in their time.

That didn’t mean I fully understood them. What it meant tobeone.

I had so many questions. How long had Cary been a Deathless? How long wouldIbe one? What if I said no? I’d been waiting my turn to be judged by the prince. Was there something greater waiting for me in Aides?

Something…worse?

Was I good enough to carry the weight and power of the ferrier?

“London.”

His hand grabbed mine. I remembered the comfort in his touch. And I saw the certainty in his eyes. It was the same way August used to look at me.

Like I was a flame that couldn’t be put out.

I’d needed that Cary in the hospital. His sure grip on my hand. His smile. All my mortal life, I’d planned for what was next. And when those plans were ripped away, I had…nothing.

Except for his kindness.

And there were millions more who needed that. Who needed someone to understand their fear.

“Okay,” I said. Helping others wasn’t such a bad way to spend the afterlife.

Then another question came to me: “What happens to you?”

He stared at something in his other hand. Daffodil petals.

“I want to be with him.” His gaze searched my face for understanding. I already knew. The moment I saw August again in the maze. The gentle flicker of love behind his eyes when I mentioned Cary. “Is that okay?”

I was surprised by his question. Even more shocked by how easily, how quickly I answered: “Yes.”

In every second I’ve been away from him, all I’ve wanted was for August to move on. To remember me but not to be heldback by those memories. To live his life.

Somehow, with Cary, I knew he’d do that.

Now I watch them sit on stools at the front of the room. A hush falls over the kids. Quiet as sunrise. Cary plays guitar. And August sings.

His voice still isn’t great. To make up for it, he coaxes the kids to join in. They make up songs with silly lyrics. They laugh and laugh. And Cary grins, staring at August with fondness etched into every corner of his face.

“Themagain?”