"I don't know why I ran."Sam's voice was quiet, almost lost in the crackling of the fire. The morning had stretched into afternoon, and they hadn't moved from their spot. They'd eaten a little, spoken a little, but mostly they'd just sat there, watching the flames."Maybe you needed to see if anyone would come after you," I said.Sam looked at me. "Is that what it was? A test?""I don't know. Was it?"They were quiet for a moment. "I think I needed to know if I mattered. If anyone would notice I was gone.""We noticed.""Yeah." Sam's voice cracked. "You did. You came after me. You didn't let me disappear.""That's what we do here."Sam shook their head. "I don't understand that. I don't understand why you care so much about someone you barely know."Marcus looked up from his carving. "Because we've all been where you are.""Have you?" Sam's voice was sharp. "Have you really? Because I don't think you understand what it's like to live with what I've done."Marcus set down his carving.

"I don't know if I can do this."Maya's voice was barely a whisper. She was sitting by the fire, her arms wrapped around her knees. Sam had finally fallen asleep, their head resting on her shoulder. The firelight flickered across her face, and I could see the exhaustion carved into every line."Do what?" I asked."Stay. Watch him struggle. Watch him hurt." She shook her head. "I spent months looking for him. I was so focused on finding him that I didn't think about what would happen after.""After is the hard part," I said. "I know."She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "He's so broken. He's been broken for so long. And I don't know how to fix him.""You can't fix him," I said. "That's not how this works.""Then what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and watch?""Yes." I met her eyes. "That's exactly what you're supposed to do. Sit here. Watch. Be present. That's all anyone can do."Maya looked at Sam. They were still asleep, their face peaceful for the first time in days."I f

"I have to go back."Sam's voice was quiet, but it cut through the morning air like a blade. Everyone around the fire froze. Maya's face went pale."What do you mean go back?" she asked.Sam looked at their hands. They were holding the carving they'd been working on. It was almost finished now. A small bird with its wings spread wide."I mean I have to go back to the city. I have to face what I did.""No." Maya's voice was sharp. "No, you don't. You don't have to do that. You can stay here. You can heal here.""Running away didn't work," Sam said. "I tried that. I thought if I left everything behind, I could forget. But I can't. I can't forget. And I can't move forward until I face what I did.""There's nothing to face," Maya said. "It was an accident. A terrible accident. But it wasn't your fault.""It was my fault." Sam's voice cracked. "I was driving. I was tired. I shouldn't have been on the road. And a little girl died because of me."Maya started to cry. "Please don't do this. P

The morning came slow and gray. Clouds had rolled in overnight, thick and heavy, blocking out the sun. The fire struggled to stay alive, sputtering against the damp air.Sam was sitting alone at the edge of the clearing. Their carving was finished. The bird sat in their open palm, wings spread wide, ready to fly."Can I see it?"They looked up. Maya was standing behind them, her eyes still heavy with sleep.Sam nodded and held out the bird. Maya took it carefully, turning it over in her hands."It's beautiful," she said. "You really made this?""I did." Sam's voice was quiet. "I wanted to give it to you. To say thank you. For everything."Maya's eyes filled with tears. "Sam...""I know it's not much. But I wanted you to have something. Something I made. Something that meant something."Maya pulled them into a hug. "It's perfect. It's absolutely perfect."Sam held her tight. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. For leaving. For not saying goodbye. For making you worry.""Stop apologiz

"I don't know if I can do this."Maya's voice was barely a whisper. She was standing at the gate, her bag slung over her shoulder. The morning sun was rising behind her, casting long shadows across the clearing.Sam stood a few feet away, their arms crossed, their face unreadable."Then don't," Sam said. "Stay."Maya shook her head. "You know I can't.""I don't know anything anymore."Maya moved closer. "Sam, please. Don't make this harder than it already is.""Harder?" Sam laughed bitterly. "You're leaving. How much harder can it get?""I'm coming back. I told you that.""You also told me you'd never leave. And here you are. Leaving."Maya's face crumpled. "That's not fair.""Nothing about this is fair."Maya reached for Sam's hand. Sam pulled away."Don't," they said. "Just go. Get it over with.""Sam...""Go." Their voice cracked. "Just go."Maya stood there, her hand still extended. She looked like she wanted to say something. But she didn't. She just nodded and turned toward the