Page 121 of Last Light

Maybe three hundred.

On my quick scan, I don’t recognize anyone but Bobby.

He’s calling out loudly, “Cheryl! Cheryl! Get over here! You’ll never believe it!”

My stomach clenches. Travis takes a step forward. Away from me.

I hear the squeal of joy.

And then I see the woman running.

She throws herself into Travis’s arms.

He hugs her tight.

He was married to her. They had a child together. He was with her in high school and in all the years that followed.

A divorce doesn’t matter that much when the world falls apart the way it did.

Of course he still loves her.

He belongs to her a lot more than he’ll ever belong to me.

My throat is hurting, but I’m trying to smile when Travis drops his arms and Cheryl steps back.

She’s pretty. I knew she would be. She’s tall and long-limbed with blondish hair. “I can’t believe you found us,” she’s saying to him, her voice breaking with emotion. “Did you come all this way by yourself?”

“Not by myself.” Travis turns and gestures me over. “I was with Layne. You ever meet her?”

I come closer since I don’t really have a choice. I feel like I’m intruding, but I smile at Cheryl and tell her it’s nice to meet her.

Cheryl gives me a long once-over. “Oh yeah,” she says with a smile. “I remember seein’ you around. I knew your grandma and grandpa. So you’ve been with Travis all this time?”

The question is perfectly friendly, but it hits me like an accusation. I clear my throat. “We ran into each other. We were both heading to Fort Knox. It was safer together. At least for me.”

Cheryl nods, not really paying attention to me, and turns back to Travis. Her face contorts. “I can’t believe you found me.” She hugs him again, crying against his chest.

He hugs her back.

I turn away, my throat aching like a wound.

He’s not mine.

He’s notmine.

Everything is different now.

I’m not going to act like a selfish child, clinging blindly to anything I want.

This is the way it is now.

I’ve finally found the remains of Meadows, but it doesn’t feel like my town anymore.

It’s not my place.

I’m not sure I want to stay with them.

Maybe I’ll leave with Mack and Anna.

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