He did.
Oh, he did.
He opened his eyes, and for a moment nothing happened. But then the tangle of threads in my chest burst to life, writhing and wild, and it stretched between us. It connected us. It was strong and true and I heard him, loud and clear even though he didn’t speak aloud.
carter carter carter
His eyes filled with the brightest orange I’d ever seen.
A tear trickled down his cheek.
I brushed it away.
“Awake,” he whispered. “Awake. Carter, I’m awake. I’m awake.”
THEY WERE WAITING FOR US.
We walked toward them, hands clasped between us.
The sirens blared, cracking the cold air like it was glass.
Chris and Tanner and Rico were grinning. They looked almost feral.
Rico said, “This is some goddamn Disney shit right here.”
Jessie rolled her eyes. “Mystical moon magic.”
Dominique shook her head fondly.
Bambi laughed, and it was sweet and kind. Joshua looked up at her from her arms, blinking slowly at the sight of his mother so carefree.
But it was my own mother I turned to.
She was smiling quietly.
She said, “Gavin. To me, if you please.”
He stiffened, but it didn’t last. He squared his shoulders. He dropped my hand and walked slowly to her. She stood on the steps above him, looking down.
She said, “Did you make your choice?”
He said, “Yes.”
“What did you choose?”
And Gavin said, “Carter.”
She started to nod, but then he spoke again.
“And family. I chose family. Pack. Pack. Pack.”
She took his face in her hands. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead. He shuddered at the press of her lips. She pulled away, but only just.
She whispered, “This is where you belong. This is where you’re supposed to be. No one else can have you. No one else can take you. I love you, I love you, I love you.”
He stepped forward, pressing his face against her stomach. She was startled, but then she chuckled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She looked to me. Her eyes flashed. “It’s time to show the world why we’re the goddamn Bennett pack.”
like this/little god