Page 124 of River & Rue

Crack.

Another fissure opens.

Time slips. A memory whispers.

“What if we never know, Rue?”

“Know what, Teddybear?”

“What it’s like to measure time with good memories instead of bad ones.”

“We will. It won’t always be like this. One day, we’ll be far, far away, drinking margaritas on a beach with turquoise water tickling our toes.”

“Will you tell me that story? Our story?”

“Sure. Once upon a time, there was a prince⁠—”

“Hey, I’m supposed to be a king.”

“I’m starting at the beginning!”

“Can… can you start at the end? When we’re already happy?”

“Yes. Yes, Teddy. Of course I will.”

“Rue?”

I blink at Maya. “Yeah?”

“Your marshmallow is done.”

Dan chuckles. “I think you mean cremated.”

As I examine the lump of crusted black on my skewer, a chunk falls off and hits the flames. The sound of it sizzling distorts until all I hear is shattering glass.

I throw my chair back and jump to my feet. The skewer drops from my fingers, clattering to the flagstones. Clumps of blackened sludge land on my sneakers.

As I turn toward the dark, someone touches my arm.

“Princess? Are you okay?”

His fingers burn.

“I—I have to go.”

I yank my arm free and run.

And run.

“Next time you run, you shouldn’t come back. Just keep running.”

“I’m not leaving you, Teddy. Not ever.”

“But it hurts, doesn’t it? To feel so free, only to end up right back where you started?”

“I don’t think of it like that. When I climbed the maple out front, didn’t I always come down to you? It’s the same with running.”

“But—”