Chapter 33: Elodie

In a nuclear explosion, after the blinding flash of light, there is a shock wave that wipes out everything in its path before the accompanying sound ever catches up. For that span of time, it's like the world is deaf because the shock travels faster than the speed of sound. Silent destruction. I don't know how long I was caught up in my own shock wave before I realized that Sawyer, currently the only solid thing in my reality, was speaking.

I couldn't understand words at first. Didn't try. It was easier to focus on his tone and stay curled into a ball around the center of my pain. The rumble of his voice vibrated into my cheek, my side, everywhere I pressed against his chest, until degree by bare degree, my body began to unknot. The shaking began to ease. And my ears started to work again.

"You're not alone anymore," he whispered into my hair. "I'm here."

I lay still against him. Listening.