“Matt, where are we going?”
“He’d come out here sometimes to get some air. I’d tag along but stay out of his way. It’d be when he didn’t feel like talking. That’s why it’d be me. I’d just shut up and let him be.”
The implication was that the rest of us wouldn’t always do that—and it was probably true. It stung a little, though not as much as I might have expected it to. Sometimes the truth is as much balm as it is sting. I sighed and shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my coat. “All right. That answers my question a little. But where would you two go?”
“The Shakespeare Garden,” Matt said, breaking into a jog once we’d cleared the bridge. “He said that even with what the camazotzi did to it, it still felt safe and different. He’d sit on that old stone bench and stare out at the barrow. Sometimes he’d sing and I could almost understand the words—my head could almost understand the words. My heart already knew them.” He slowed, swallowing hard and looking at me with eyes that sparkled with unshed tears. “God, Marin, if he’s not—if he’s not okay, what are we going to do?”
“He’s going to be fine,” I said, refusing to consider the possibility that he wouldn’t be. “Dammit, we should have brought J.T. with us. How are we going to see him?”
“He’ll find us,” Matt muttered. “We just have to get there. It was that way with…I remember it being that way. I remember wanting to come back to myself even though I was afraid—to come back to you. I remember that it was all I wanted. All Ciar wanted.” Matt sucked in a sharp breath and exhaled it slowly. “I’m sure he’s just been waiting. Once we get there, once we come for him, he’ll come back with us and we’ll get the missing piece back to where it’s supposed to be and then everything will be fine.” His determined, certain façade cracked. “Right?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, heart thudding painfully against my breast. “You’re absolutely right.”
Gods and monsters, I hope we’re not lying to ourselves. I hope you’re right.
I grasped his hand tightly and we headed for the Shakespeare Garden together.
So Matt remembers more than he was willing to admit. It’s a good thing. Perhaps it will solve the issue of separated spirits.
Thanks for the new update. Much appreciated.