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“I’m scared.”

Shit. When she told me things, it usually meant someone was hurting her or trying to, and it made me feel murderous.

“Don’t be. I’m here.”

“It’s not the ride.”

I knew it. “What is it?” Would I regret asking her?

“What if I don’t ever find my true love?”

“True love?” I nearly choked.

“Like inThe Princess Bride. Wesley and Buttercup.”

“If you haven’t found him by the time you’re thirty, I’ll be your true love.”

I didn’t know what made me say that. Or promise it.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

She rested her head on my shoulder, and I heard her sigh with relief. It was funny how words had so much power. They could hurt. Torture. Threaten. But they could also heal and bring hope. Katrina taught me that.

I wanted to be her forever, her true love, because I needed that lifeline as desperately as I needed her. When I felt low, she was the only one who could make me laugh and smile. Katrina was the reason I bothered to dress up for Halloween.

“You’ll love me,” she whispered, “because that’s what true love is. Kisses. Holding hands. Popcorn and cotton candy. Rides on the Ferris wheel.”

I swallowed hard because as much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t.

“Giving me your coat because I’m cold. Hiding me in the closet.” Her voice cracked. “Taking beatings meant for me.”

Fuck. I trembled, hating that we couldn’t escape. I tried so many fucking times. They always found us.

“If we ever get separated, will you do something for me?”

Of course. She didn’t have to ask.

Wait. Get separated? What did she mean?

“Katrina?”

“Keep wearing costumes. Put a smile on your face. Wherever I am, I’ll think of you and know you’re doing it.”

“I promise.”

“Thank you, Rain.”

Her gratitude was more than all the things she mentioned. It was all the things she couldn’t because we buried them deep down, covered them with concrete, and hid them so we didn’t have to expose the deepest hurts.

“Always,” I whispered back, watching as the Ferris wheel descended and reality rushed to meet us.

“Can we get popcorn and cotton candy now?”

I led her away from the Ferris wheel and toward the food stalls. “You can get whatever you want.”

Seeing her smile when I answered? It was worth every penny.