Alan “Let's go,” I said, leading Felicio to my car. The air was alive with death and violence. It was all in their eyes. Their faces were etched with anger and rage. I didn't understand how so many people could turn so quickly. The city was on fire. So was my heart. I had to put Mary's death out of my mind, even though it was the hardest pain I ever had to deal with. A hollowness burst in my heart. I didn't know how I was going to face this, or how I was going to carry on. Mary shouldn't have died. She should have lived. She was the young one. She was the one with the life ahead of her, not like me. I was old and beaten up. I'd done my time. It was supposed to be a world for the young, and now I had to ally with Felicio because he was just about the only person around me with any sense.

