Page 12 of Jacob Michaels is Not Here

“Can we make it back to the house?” Lucas swallowed hard. “Before…will I just slow you down?”

“I want you with me.” I grabbed his face in my hands. “I want you to be the last thing I see.”

Lucas’ eyes started to leak.

“I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you more.”

“What if—what if it’s not temporary?”

“Hey!” I whisper-hissed, holding his face firmly in my hands so he had to look at me. “Every-fucking-thing is temporary. Except us. Except us, Lucas. I promise you that.”

Lucas stared into my eyes, two trails of tears winding down his face.

“I believe you.”

I nodded.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

Lucas took a shaky breath, doing his best to stop the tears from escaping his eyes. Finally, he steadied himself, resolve settling on his face. He nodded.

“I can do this.”

“I will do this.”

“You’ll come back.”

A voice in the back of my head wasn’t so sure.

“I will come back.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.” I nodded once. “I promise.”

“I love you.” Lucas whimpered. “Just in case I haven’t told you enough. In case I never get to again.”

“I love you, too.”

I kissed Lucas again, then laced my fingers through his, and we raced away from the tree towards the house.

Did you see that?