ezra

Issa POV: *It’s winter again.* *The second one. 365 days. 12 months since he left.* I don’t know if he’s alive. Or if he hates me. The last time I saw him… his eyes were edged with pain, not love. And the last thing I said to him wasn’t “I love you.” The memories rushed back. “Why won’t you listen to me?!” My voice cracked. “Why won’t you stay? Why?!” He stepped back, jaw tight. “Because I can’t, Issa. If I don’t risk this, I risk *you*. I would stay if I could. But if this country falls... you fall with it.” “They can excuse one soldier. Not you. Never you. I can’t—I can’t watch you throw yourself into this.” “Issa... we need as many hands as we can. I promise I’ll write. But promise me—if I fall... don’t cry for me. Just look up at the stars. I’ll be there, just like I said I would.” “Don’t say that! It’s bad enough you’re going to war—just come back. Come back in one piece.” Silence. “Ezra, promise me...” “I can’t. *He never wrote back.* *Never showed me he was alive.* *Never—* “They’re pretty tonight...” His voice. No. o, it can’t be. The grass beside me rustled as that voice filled my head again. “The stars. They’re pretty tonight.” I turned—and there he was. I didn’t think. I threw my arms around him. But something was wrong. My hands didn’t meet him fully. One of his arms… was gone “What... what happened?” I whispered. I didn’t een know if he was real. But I didn’t care. He was *here*. I could feel him. “It’s... a long story,” he said. “He was coming for you. For our home. I stepped in front of the bullet. I’m sorry I couldn’t write... I was learning how to do it with my other hand. As you can see, I struggled.” He laughed, but it sounded broken He sat next to me. continue in ooening