The Third Message novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Let Go

Burke did not let go.

His hand was shaking on my wrist.

"I came back for you," he said. "I told you. I went back up the trail."

"After the rescue team had already found me."

"I didn't know that."

"I know you didn't."

I looked at his fingers, still wrapped around my arm.

"Before that," I said. "On the trail, in the dark. I had hold of your hand with both of mine."

He went still.

"I told you I couldn't wait there. I said please. Do you remember?"

"I thought the rescue team was close," he whispered.

"You peeled my fingers off yours. One finger at a time, with your other hand."

The wind blew across the quad.

"You told me my leg wasn't that bad. Then you crouched down for Bree and you walked away."

"I wasn't asking you to carry me," I said. "I was asking you to stay."

His hand opened.

It fell to his side.

"I have never told anyone that," I said. "Not June. Not anyone. I carried it for months."

"Lana."

"I don't want another sorry. You say it, and you feel better, and I'm still the one sitting there."

He opened his mouth and shut it again.

His face went through five different things, and none of them was an excuse.

For once in his life, Burke Tordoff had nothing patient to say.

"I'm going," I said.

"Wait."

"No."

"Not for me," he said. His voice was cracked and low. "It's about your money. I need you to hear this."

I stopped.

He turned and walked back across the grass toward the bus, not fast, and he did not look to see if I followed.

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