Page 231 of Bend

“My mom had made too much japchae. Wolfe used to steal half of mine every time I brought it in, and my first thought was to text him and tell him there was extra.”

My throat tightens.

“I had the picture ready before I remembered there was no fucking point sending it.”

“Draygon…”

“It’s okay,”

She moves before I do, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me in, and I let her.

That’s the difference.

For once, I don’t make myself the one doing all the holding.

I just sit there with her arms around me and admit the obvious.

“I miss him too.”

“I know.”

“And your right, he is supposed to be here.”

“I know.”

We stay like that until neither of us is quite as wrecked.

Then Echo reaches for the notebook.

“I’m finishing it.”

I look at her.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah.”

There’s something different in her face now.

Still hurting, but decided. She picks up the guitar again and starts from the beginning. Her voice is quiet at first, but steadier than before.

I grew up thinking two was all there’d ever be,

Just me and Mom against whatever came for me.

Never knew there were names I should’ve known by heart,

Brothers and a father living whole lives worlds apart.

She kept that door closed till there wasn’t time,

Waited till the end to tell me what was mine.

Then the only home I’d ever known was gone,

And she left me with directions to a family moving on.

Leave a light on if I’m late coming home,