I never wanted to live forever," she says. "I just wanted enough time.

Poor kid,' Jenna says, and rolls her eyes toward me for a moment. Then she returns to her book. 'She doesn't even understand what kind of place this is.

I want to make the world into something better so that he can be okay.

Did you tell freedom hello for me?

Everyone should remember being born. It doesn't seem fair that we only remember dying.

I nod like I'm not at all unnerved by this new cold side to him. Not cruel like his father. Not warm like the husband who sought me out on quiet nights. Something in between. This Linden has never woven his fingers through mine, never chosen me from a line of weary Gathered girls, never said he loved me in a myriad of coloured lights. We are nothing to each other.

Real’ is a dirty word in this place.