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“Stand clear!”

This weird, high-pitched noise whines The two para with his chest and face The wo on his chest; thedown

His face looks strange His skin is gray, his eyes are rolling

“What’s wrong?”

I can only watch as Barrett’s body twitches His hand, curled up by his chest, unfurls and curls again as his back arches

“Barrett!”

The paddles aren’t really paddles—more like soft stickers The first ti at his face Please…please…please…

When no one o up by his head The man holds out his arm to keep me away

“I love you!”

I can tell it worked that tiain I can’t even hear their words Can only stare at Barrett’s face, his bleeding throat

Oh God, please…

I beg someone to let me hold his hand

“Okay, but if I tell you move, you have to move back”

His face and body are so still I kiss his fingers

“It’s okay, baby Gwen is here I’m here I love you I don’t care what happened in the past It doesn’t matter to me”