His breaths are copper leaves ripped from a cedar.
She hears the gale in his chest rattle the blinds.
Before the bed can roll over to smother them,
She heaves it off, hearing the storm slam into the window.
She tastes the salt in the downpour, feels
wetness speckle the backs of her hands.
“Abraham’s tree has its foot in the water”—
at this staticky song of the weather report,
she laces her boots with typha, lifts him
in one thin arm, and cradles him over miles of
sharp puddles. They slice at her soles, but she splashes

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, ARIA WAS TAKEN IN BY THE TOWN’S physician, Cad had followed the town’s sheriffs the whole way to the physician’s house. His hands kept shaking and he cursed every time he’d ever fumbled for an arrow. Aria, Cad wondered. How could she have learned all of those fighting techniques? She’d never shown me those… But then again, why would she? Cad glanced at Silas who was walking nervously next to him.

I.
How you tilted your head skyward
and the sun filtered
over your freckles
I've never had such a
beautiful day.

II.
How I have loved you
with every step you have taken
even when the breathing
got to be too much for you
How I have forgiven you
when you have brought me down
with your tight jaw and sometimes
self involved disposition
How I have missed all the good days
but they are gone and we won't
get them back
that's okay.

Chapter Ten

“GIVE HIM SOME SPACE!” Iris said, pushing her way in. She looked at the man carefully. A long thin cut, spilling blood was on Julius’s head and his arm was slightly burned. His face looked so peaceful, as if he was finally at rest.

“You’re not going to give up on me that easily,” Iris whispered. “Pika, go get my satchel!” The boy rushed to her tent, with its singed edges and smell of smoke. He retrieved the satchel and returned it to Iris.

“Here,” he said.

The first five verses of John pack quite a punch. They show the eternality of Christ along with his power, authority, and victory as the light of the world that has not and cannot be overcome by the darkness. It’s a great introduction to a phenomenal book:

Chapter Nine

AS CAD AND IRIS RETURNED TO THE CAMP, Alaric was, of course, running around in a circle like a rooster with a missing head. As soon as he saw the two come out of the trees, Alaric ran up to them, hugged Iris close to him and glared at Cad.

“What were you two doing in there? Answer me!” He demanded.

Cad began, “I—”

“Cad was only teaching me how to shoot properly, and in turn I taught him which herbs were the best for headaches and cuts.”
Alaric scoffed and shook his head. “And why would a healer need to know how to shoot an arrow?”

I. Uncertainty
so you’re telling me no
but when back then
i know that
yes is ridiculous
so are chances
but i really thought
never mind

II. Tipping
rose petal colored
fingernail polish spilled
on tiled aqua floor
stained it the color
contrast she called it
it was her own
abstract decoration

I. Regress
I wanted her to turn around
So I could see her face
Confirm in real life
My biggest suspicion
That she was as pretty as she looked
In his pictures
I had met her once, before all of this
She was pretty then, but I hadn’t paid this much attention
I recognized her by her red-gold hair
Neatly curled and tapering down near her waist
Her voice was sweet and smart
I wanted her to turn around
But then she followed him out the door.

Chapter Five

CAD EYED THE MAN THAT LAY ON THE GROUND. His hair was reddish blonde, his face bruised from the fall and a small cut on the side of his right cheek. His ax lay several yards away, lying in the muddied banks of the creek.

The man pushed Cad forward, making his knees land in mud. Cad turned his head slightly to the left and saw his kidnapper grabbed the other man by his hand and brought him to his feet.

I. Swingset
Quiet, hush
Don’t say a word
Breathe, push
Bring me a little closer
Swing, rush
Upward toes to the sky
Euphoria in my veins
Staccato creak of the swingset chains
Just enough childhood
To bring a smile to my face.

II. One Step at a Time
I’m releasing the little bits of myself
still attached to you
I’ve been like a willow tree
quiet and unassuming
leaning deep over the grass
but now
I will emerge.