Chapter 12

Paul climbed to the small hole in the side of the hill that constituted his brother’s claim. He turned, looking out over the town that belonged to him now. Nothing was ever going to be the same. Whatever life he had before was lost…but there was a new one waiting for him, one that he had stumbled into, one that he didn’t think he deserved.

Paul slid the match against the bottom of his boot. It erupted in a weak flare, almost invisible in the bright sunshine. He touched it to the corner of the letter without regret, allowing the blackening paper to flutter to the ground where it burned itself out. A small breeze scattered the ashes, blending them with the sand until they were lost.

Paul turned, climbing higher and deeper into the hills, his eyes scanning the ground. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he knew it when he saw it.

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