Nathan’s eyes burned, but he blinked the tears back, letting the warmth of the moment settle into the cold places of his heart.

Later, Nathan opened his eyes to the pale light of the hospital room, the scent of antiseptic sharp in the air. A bandage pressed against his forehead, reminding him of the fight, the chaos, the blood.

For a moment, he lay there, staring at the ceiling, the memories blurring together—Sarah’s tear-streaked face, the darkness, the pain.

Micheal’s voice broke ...