S hadow and silence surrounded us like a blanket, save for the distant sounds of the soldiers above. The water around our waists was cold.
Max’s eyelids slid closed. He was pale and shaking. Water dripped from his hair, mingling with the tears rolling down his cheeks. I tasted salt and realized they streaked mine, too.
“You’re back,” I choked out, as we collapsed together. Our hands clutched something hard between us—I couldn’t look away from him long enough to even see what it was.
He smiled through his tears, and as the rest of my vision faded I thought, If I die here, what a perfect last sight.
“I’m back,” he said.
