Chapter 22. Something in the Air

Colton’s voice follows me, and in such a short time, I catch up to Meadow running with Carmen, although not at full speed, as Carmen seems to be struggling to pull herself together. I slow as I get to them and pull up on the free side of Carmen’s sagging posture, pulling her arm into mine and holding her up a little. Her body is icy cold, giving off a wave of devastation around her, and she doesn’t even flinch at my touch.

She’s sobbing, staring blankly ahead as her feet stumble over debris she isn’t trying to avoid, and Meadow is struggling to keep her steady, casting a glance at me that says, ‘she’s a mess.’ Overwhelming empathy runs over me, both from her and my internal emotion piping up at the sorrowful state of Carmen. I wish she didn’t see what she saw, and I don’t blame Colton for tackling her and holding her tight. No one needs to see someone they love end that way, and it will forever haunt her. Knowing her mom’s last moments were in terror, agony, and untold sufferi