Page 57 of Ashes

“If you ever feel the urge to bite yourself again, promise me you’ll come find me instead,” I say.

Seeing her hurt and upset like this bothers me.

I want to make her feel better somehow.

“I promise,” she says with a small smile. “I just hate that we can’t finish what we started.”

I frown.

Maybe she’s wrong.

Maybe we can.

But it would require me to trust her.

Trust her with everything.

Trust her like I never trusted anyone before.

“I think I know what we can do. If you want to. We can still complete the task,” I say.

Her face pales. “No. I can’t. I don’t even like the idea of it. It’s too much.”

“It doesn’t say it has to be you. It can be me.”

“What do you mean? I don’t—” Her brow creases. “Oh.”

“It could work. If you want to try.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. I trust you.”

Her lips part in surprise. “Okay,” she says.

I take a deep breath.

Maybe I’m making a mistake.

Or maybe not.

We’re going to find out.