I still couldn\u2019t sleep, not after my watch, not after the conversation with Thom. He drifted off and I lay awake, staring upward, listening to him breathe in the darkness.<\/p>\n
We were lucky, he and I. Sure, we\u2019d had our share of problems\u2014we still did in some ways\u2014but they were nothing compared to what was going on between Sif and Thordin.<\/p>\n
Then again, it took almost losing each other to make us realize that being together was more important than anything else\u2014that having the other with you was more important than any disagreement we\u2019d ever had or ever could have, more important than any belief we might have held dear.<\/em><\/p>\n I rolled onto my side and pressed my face into his neck. Thom stirred, but kept on sleeping, his arm wrapped around my waist. He was right about there not being anything we could do, though, except wait. They\u2019d have to solve their own problems, once Thordin woke up.<\/p>\n If<\/em> he woke up.<\/p>\n A shiver shot through me and I pressed closer to Thom. Something was tugging on the edge of my consciousness, tickling the back of my brain. I tried to push it away. I was tired, even though I couldn\u2019t sleep. I didn\u2019t have the energy.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t go away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe knew it was only a matter of time,\u201d Jac said softly, staring at her hands. \u201cThere were just too many signs pointing in that direction. We just didn\u2019t want to believe it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThen you understand.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d she admitted. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t like it, either. But sometimes you\u2019ve got to let go. You have to step back and let the chips fall where they may\u2014to let God or whatever\u2019s out there make the call.\u201d She gave me a brave, if weak, smile. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t make it any easier.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d I whispered. \u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I still couldn\u2019t sleep, not after my watch, not after the conversation with Thom. He drifted off and I lay awake, staring upward, listening to him breathe in the darkness. We were lucky, he and I. Sure, we\u2019d had our … Continue reading