FREYA
He breaks eye contact, doesn’t utter a word as everyone else bares their neck to him and he sits beside me, giving Max a go ahead look and Max enters and we begin to leave.
I can hardly contain the anxiety gnawing inside me. He has refused to see or say anything to me for days because I decided to join this patrol against his wish and now he is joining us, my specific team.
My heart continues to pound slowly as the car rides into the night and I try my best not to look at him.
I keep my eyes on the dark window instead and I count the trees the headlights catch— three pines, an oak, three pines, an oak, the small repeating pattern Papa used to make me count to settle my breathing before a run. I do not let my body lean. I do not let myself wonder what he is thinking.
The pack mi
