Page 108 of What Remains

"Seth!"

He barely had time to brace himself before she crashed into him, her arms wrapping around his waist with the stubborn force of a child who refused to let go.

He let out a soft, fractured laugh, as if the sound itself didn't want to break.

"Easy there, peanut."

"You said morning," Layla mumbled against his jacket. "Morning came."

"It did."

She squeezed harder, as if her grip could rewrite their plans.

"You have to go now?"

He glanced at Jay, who had turned to give them the illusion of privacy.

"Yeah."

Layla didn't answer. She just held on.

After a long stretch of quiet, Seth knelt in front of her and brushed a loose braid back over her shoulder with careful fingers, the motion gentle enough to slow the world.

"Do you remember what I told you?" he asked.

Layla sniffled, then nodded.

"Keep practicing with the bow."

"And?"

"Listen to Mom."

"And?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically through fresh tears, as if the performance might convince the universe to change its mind.

"Don't wander into the woods by myself."

"There it is."

A tiny smile flickered across her face—bright, then gone.

"Will you come back?"

Seth looked at her for a long second, searching for something sturdier than hope, a promise he could keep without lying.

"There isn't anything that could stop me from trying."

It wasn't the answer she wanted, but it was the only one he had.

Layla threw her arms around his neck again, and Seth wrapped his hands around her back, anchoring her in place for as long as he could.

"You'd better," she said, her voice breaking at the edges.

"I'll try."

When she finally let go, Liz, stepped forward from the doorway.