Page 329 of Let Me In

Looks up.

Meets my eyes.

And in that instant—everything stills.

The air.

The ache.

The quiet hum ofnot-enoughI’ve carried for so long.

All of it just… hushes.

He smiles.

Not wide.

Not smug.

Just soft.

Certain.

And mouths it, like a promise.

“Almost done.”

I swallow.

Can’t speak.

But I nod.

Because I think—

I think I’m almost done, too.

Almost done running.

Almost done doubting.

Almost done pretending I don’t want to stay.

His hammer starts again, steady and sure.

And something in me settles.

I turn back toward the house, let the screen door close behind me.

Set my mug on the table.

Move to the bed.

The dogs don’t stir.

The breeze lifts the blanket, just a little, and birdsong weaves through the trees like background music to something holy.

I sit.

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