Page 111 of The Corruption of Hollis Brown

I’m not afraid of being new. You were something new once, and you can do it again, if you’re brave enough.

It was terrible, I can’t—

I know, but you’re not by yourself, we’re together.

If you just stop running, you can walk with me.

Hollis pulled their fingers, smarting and half-frozen, out of the ground and blew on them. Took care of them.

I’m scared.

It’s okay to be scared. Do you want this?

I can’t.

I didn’t ask if you could, I asked if you did.

Hollis, I—

Do you want to wake up with me on Saturdays? Have our own pantry? Maybe have chickens so we can have fresh eggs?

We can eat what we like every day, go where we want.

It’s too selfish.

It’s not. Not to me. And even so, I’m being selfish too.

Be selfish with me.

Be selfish?

Let’s be together and be selfish and loud. I’m asking you out, Walt. I want to make us honest.

Walt curled up tight, hiding his face again, too weak for ecstasy as he always was.

And you’ll tell me if you’re not happy? God, please tell me, if years down the line you decide you don’t want me.

I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you, and if you want, I’ll even take you back home. I’ll walk you all the way there, from the hollow to Rose Town and I’ll walk you to your door and I’ll kiss you the way we kiss before you go. Even if we hate each other by then, I’ll still do it.

I can’t be happy if we leave that place the way it is right now, Hollis. I can’t be that selfish, if it was my fault.

Then we’ll find a way to fix it. Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Annie and Yulia and we’ll make a plan and we’ll figure it out. I’m not in the habit of breaking promises.

All right . . . all right.

Together?

Yes.

Come on, let’s go home.

Holy

The sun was still high in the sky when they crossed back into town.

One sleeve of their coat was empty, arm wrapped around their middle.

Swallow