23

They laugh, and you can't help but think how much more genuinely happy they seem than you could have imagined this morning. And it's all because they got to spend time with you.

Just the thought warms you from the inside out. How can you possibly respond?

You don't say anything. Even if you could tell Marlowe the truth about how this vote could affect you, you wouldn't quite know what to say. The timing may have been lucky for you and them to meet—but it wouldn't have happened at all if it weren't for the forest being in danger. You just can't bring yourself to be happy about that.

It doesn't take long for Marlowe to notice you've gone quiet.

"Is—everything okay?" they ask hesitantly, their smile fading as they watch you with concern in their eyes.

In the end, you just nod. Marlowe swallows as you do so, and although they offer you a reassuring smile in return, you don't think they seem fully convinced that everything really is okay. In fact, from the way they throw you one last uncertain glance, you get the feeling they suspect there's something you're not telling them.

After that, the mood feels a little different between you. Because as much as you may not want it to be the case, there's always going to be a distance between you and anybody you meet as long as you have a secret the size of the forest keeping you from truly being honest.

Chapter Nine: Ninth Life