Page 176

"Are you okay?" I sign, cautiously.

She nods, tears still sitting behind her eyes.

My heart breaks a little more every second I watch her stand there—scared and unsure.

"Come here," I say.

The door opens slowly. Vienna doesn't move until it's wide enough for her to see Lenny standing here too.

Lenny waves, a warm smile on her face. Vienna swallows hard, lifting a hand before running to me.

She hits me with all of the force of her emotions, throwing her arms around my neck when I bend down to hold her tight. Her fingers twist in the back of my shirt as I gently rub my hand down her hair.

We stay like that, her squeezing with everything she has while I look to Lenny to keep me together.

Lenny nods, smiling, her eyes glossy. And the realization that because she's here I'm not alone in this makes the constant thought of her leaving hit me even harder.

I don't let go until Vienna starts to—her grip loosening little by little until she finally pulls back.

"I'm scared," she signs simply.

That's it.

Two words, no further explanation.

"I know," I say back, my stomach dropping again. My jaw tics as I try to think of something else to say that I didn't already try before.

"What if everything changes after this?" she asks. Her face drops. "I don't want everything to change, Jace."

She flicks her collarbone, and something cracks inside my chest.

I glance at Lenny just long enough to ground myself. Searching for words—for help—I'm not sure anyone can give.

"V—"

My two fingers stay in the air while I figure out what to say next. When I come up empty, my hands fall to my sides as I sigh—useless.

Vienna's fingers twist in the hem of her sleeve, and from the corner of my eye, I see Lenny step closer.

"Can I try?" she whispers, dropping her hand on my shoulder.

I look up to her, defeated—then confused. Not because I'm not grateful. But because I have no idea how Lenny can help with this part. How she can even understand it.

Still, I'll try anything.

I grab V's hand, giving it a tight squeeze before I stand, letting Lenny take my spot.

She crouches down, same as I was, and smiles sincerely at my sister.

Then…

Her hands start moving.

And my whole body freezes.

"You know how Elsa was scared to step into the unknown?" Lenny says.

Only she's not using her voice.