Page 110 of What Remains

Liz's hand rose to her mouth, and tears spilled freely now, unhidden. "You've barely known us."

Cara only smiled, steady and honest. "We know good people when we see them. That's enough now."

A heavy, respectful silence settled over the group, no one ready to break it, to be the one to finalize the leaving,

Josie finally stepped off the porch, crossing the space with purpose to stop directly in front of Seth. Neither cared that everyone watched; the world could look on, but this moment belonged only to them.

Josie reached up and picked a piece of lint from the shoulder of his jacket.

"I guess this is it," she said, her voice careful.

He nodded. "I guess it is."

She looked at him as if to memorize every line of his face before the road swallowed him. "You survive. That's all I'm asking."

Seth's smile came slow, soft at the corners. "I know."

"I'm holding you to that."

"And you..." His eyes flicked toward the ranch. "...keep this place standing."

"I'll try."

He hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small folding knife. The wooden handle had been worn smooth by years of use, carried through many years.

"My dad gave me this when I was sixteen," he said.

Josie frowned, relief and grief warring in her expression. "Seth..."

"It's been with me everywhere," he added, offering it without pressure. "So a part of me stays."

He placed it in her hand and gently closed her fingers around it, guiding her grip until she held on with certainty.

Josie shook her head, tears finally winning. "I can't take this."

"I want you to."

Her eyes dropped to the knife, and she tightened her fist around it, choosing the burden because she understood what it meant.

"I'll keep it safe," she said.

"I know you will.”

For one suspended moment, neither moved. Then Josie stepped forward and wrapped both arms around him, fierce, as if her grip alone could defy what was coming.

Seth held her just as tightly. His eyes closed, and he let himself stand in her embrace, letting the goodbye stretch as long as it could before snapping back into reality.

When they finally pulled apart, they stayed close enough to breathe the same air, swallowing words they didn't trust themselves to say.

Jay climbed into the driver's seat.

Seth shouldered his pack, then climbed into the drivers seat of beast.

The SUVs rumbled to life.

As the truck rolled slowly down the long dirt drive, everyone stood motionless on the edge of the yard. Liz held Layla with one arm, steadying her. Josie clutched the folded map and the worn pocketknife against her chest like a lifeline.

No one waved. The decision felt wiser than pretending it could change anything.