Page 42 of Spoils of war
Eventually, I realized he was talking.
Maybe he’d been talking the whole time.
I only caught fragments—
Muffled, distant, like they were coming from underwater.
“…didn’t know they’d do it there…”
“…wasn’t supposed to happen like that…”
“…tried to get to you sooner…”
His voice was soft.
“…I’m not like them…”
I think he touched me then, my arm, maybe my back, I don’t know.
“Hey. You’re safe now… I’ve got you.”
I didn’t believe him. His voice kept going, low and steady, threading through the cracks in my thoughts.
“They’ll say your brother started it.”
“They’ll blame Isak.”
“That’s how it works.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
A lie. Or maybe the truth. I couldn’t tell the difference anymore.
“If they think you know too much, they’ll come for your family next.”
No.
“But I can help you.”
His hand brushed my hair, and I didn’t flinch. Didn’t move at all.
“Kera. Look at me.”
I lifted my head, but it felt too heavy, like something dragging me under. My gaze met his, barely.
“You don’t have to survive this alone,” he said. “I’ll get you out. All of you. Somewhere safe. Somewhere far.”
I shook my head. My face felt wet again. I hadn’t realized I was crying.
“It’s not too late,” he said. “But you have to trust me. Just a little.”
I didn’t answer. I don’t think I could. We walked the rest of the way in silence. Or he kept talking. Maybe I just stopped hearing him.
At my door, he grabbed my wrist.
“Meet me tomorrow,” he murmured. “After work. Behind the bakery.”
I said nothing. I didn’t pull away. Then he tucked my hair behind my ear with a gentleness that didn’t belong here.
