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I don’t kno to respond Part of what Mark’s saying is true, but it ignores so much of what Sarah and I shared Maybe it was selfish of me to involve her, except that every time I pushed her away she would co and er And she was the first person on Earth who made it feel like I actually had a chance at a nor ave me hope But I don’t have the words to explain that to Mark, and I don’t even want to I don’t need to defend h to end this

"I’ "You think that’s what I want to hear?"

I sigh "Mark, the truth is, I don’t care what you want I never have"

He hitsaht in the stomach and causes me to suck in a sharp breath It’s not the first time that Mark has punched me, and he hits hard--maybe a little harder than I remember But I’ve taken a lot of shots over the last few ine, and this one I barely feel

When I don’t react to the first punch, Mark tries another His heart isn’t in it, though He throws a haye his lances off the corner of my jaw The force of his own punch carries Mark to the side, where he stu in an aard sitting position

He stays there, staring at the floor, and takes deep, heaving breaths I can tell he’s trying not to cry

"Do you feel better?" I ask, rubbing the middle of my chest

"No," he replies "No, I don’t"

"What about e end this war and destroy every Mog that stands in our way? Will you feel better then?"

Marks looks up at me, and what I see on his face surprises me It’s pity I realize what I just said wasn’t really a question for him It’s a question for me I’ her back," he says

I don’t respond I take one last look at Sarah and walk back towards the ship’s exit In the doorway, I pause and half turn

"Will you do so sapped out