“Assume this is the last day of your life, since it might really be for both of us. What one thing would you have done if you knew it was your last day?” Katie asked. She settled next to the trapped woman, trying hard to keep her mind off how cold she was. She was grateful for company, even if Deidre seemed as lost as she was.

“I would’ve told him I loved him.”

“So there was someone!”

“Long ago, yes. I drove him away. We were from … different sides of the tracks. I had everything, he had nothing,” Deidre said. “I wouldn’t give it all up, and he wanted no part of the soulless corporation I manage. I made him leave me.”

“Sounds rough,” Katie said. Deidre sounded accepting of her decision, but Katie couldn’t help wondering how long it had taken her to come to peace with sacrificing love for the demands of her job.

“What about you? What would you have done if you knew it was the last day?”

“Exactly what I did,” Katie said. “Though in hindsight, it doesn’t seem like anything is really ever enough. I could’ve said so much more than I did or maybe, just did something in addition.”

“At least you have the peace of knowing you did something.”

“Yeah, I do. And no regrets about what I did, though the few days I’ve spent here make me wonder if there was an easier way.”

“If we knew all of life’s secrets, we might be bored,” Deidre said. “Since I’m here, I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t take a chance on him.”

“Everyone should find that person that makes them feel alive and have a chance with him,” Katie said and rested her head against a wet branch. “I wish I’d been more willing to take that chance, too. Might’ve had more time with him before ending up here.”

“He deserved better than me.”

“Everyone deserves a chance at happiness, Deidre. Even rich girls running empires.”

Deidre said nothing. Rain fell steadily, until Katie’s skin was too numbed to feel it. She heard Deidre’s breathing grow deeper as the woman fell asleep. Aware there could be demons or other creatures in the dark, Katie roused herself to keep watch, as Gabriel had kept watch over her.




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