Since morning, Michael had not woken up. His skin was clammy, and his pulse was steady but slow as his body lay still on the cot. Edwin claimed to be alive. Maya claimed to have sensed two heartbeats within him.

I remained silent.

I already knew where he had put me. The gap seemed palpable to me. Swinging like a rope and singing a song that wasn't just his, we were joined together by a thread that was almost completely naked.

Rhys.

I was sitting near the bed, staring at Michael's ...