Chapter 12

As we arrived at the terminus of the path, we emerged on the far side, distanced from the school. A dirt road, unnoticed until that moment, stretched before us, its unpaved surface scattered with sparse gravel suggesting disuse for an extended period. His vehicle, a midnight blue Subaru Legacy GT, gleamed at the road's entrance. Drawing on my brother's childhood obsession with cars, I recognized the model, but the distance felt insurmountable.

Fatigue weighed heavy on my shoulders, causing them to slump and my eyes to droop. The thought of traversing the distance seemed impossible. Sensing my faltering step, he halted and scrutinized me closely. A hitch in his breath betrayed his concern as he closed the space between us.

"Just take it easy," he reassured me. "I won't hurt you."

Scooping me up gently in his arms, he cradled me close as we continued, the steady rhythm of his boots on the earth in harmony with his heartbeat. Nestled against his chest, I closed my eye