Briony squeezed her hand, shaking her head at her like she was a silly girl.

Carey broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

When they left Starlight Entertainment, Stewart was the one driving.

Briony sat in the back, her body weak, leaning into the seat.

Stewart glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Are you feeling sick?"

Briony shook her head, gazing out the window at the passing city. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Stewart, I feel like I haven't really looked at this city in so long. Could you drive me around for a bit?"

Stewart's hands tightened almost imperceptibly on the steering wheel.

He lowered his lashes and answered softly, "Of course."

The black Bentley wound its way down the city boulevard.

They drove past the bustling heart of downtown, the streets painted in neon and laughter.

Then they slipped into the university district, lined with rows of golden-leaved trees.

The tires crunched over a carpet of fallen leaves, sending them swirling into the air-little sprites in golden cloaks, dancing on the autumn wind. The car's shadow stretched behind them, drifting farther and farther away, until those golden leaves fluttered back to earth.

A sparrow swooped down from a nearby branch, snatching up a leaf before taking off again.

Autumn had arrived. And with it, winter couldn't be far behind.

...

Pearbrook, the black Bentley came to a

painted

the car, Briony sat with her eyes

voice gentle as he

slowly opened

at Pearbrook," Stewart said

down

carrying the faint scent of blooming

sky, where the last

flush of color across her pale, fragile face, lending

opened and

unbuckled and

flowering trees lined the

petals drifting down

walked ahead, Stewart

grew heavier, her steps

onto

unscrewed the top from

sipped the warm water, and felt

to Stewart, who replaced the

you said, about wanting your ashes

Stewart froze.

turned to look

don't want to rest here forever," Briony said, offering him a faint smile. "If don't make it through this, please find a peaceful place for me somewhere with good energy. Somewhere that will protect

Stewart's voice was strained, his

fight as hard as I can, but if I'm not around, I'll always feel like I let our children down. I want to do what

taking a deeper breath, her voice

the blink

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