[ by the time she roots herself deep enough in his mind to reach this memory, it is as though she is standing there, over his mother's shoulder, listening to the very same lecture she had heard poe recount a dozen different ways. in times of heartache. in times of doubt. once, to try and assuage her shame and guilt about the bond she shared with ben, while she was still torn over it.
a lifetime ago.
she steps around shara bey to crouch beside them, covering the bird with one hand. she takes it and breaks the head back. it is dead already. it feels no pain. but the neck splits, the feathers come apart in her hand. the head comes loose and there is blood on her hands. on poe's knee where he crouches. on his fingers.
it hurts her to take this from him. this one good thing. this shining, bright memory. but she holds the bird out to him, a piece of it in each hand, and she says over shara bey's voice, ]
The universe can be a dark place. It is up to you to make it good. Will you help me?
no subject
a lifetime ago.
she steps around shara bey to crouch beside them, covering the bird with one hand. she takes it and breaks the head back. it is dead already. it feels no pain. but the neck splits, the feathers come apart in her hand. the head comes loose and there is blood on her hands. on poe's knee where he crouches. on his fingers.
it hurts her to take this from him. this one good thing. this shining, bright memory. but she holds the bird out to him, a piece of it in each hand, and she says over shara bey's voice, ]
The universe can be a dark place. It is up to you to make it good. Will you help me?