I nodded. And I saw the heartbreak on his face too, and it hurt so much I could hardly bear it. Leon said my name, and I looked up to see him and Layne passing around the concrete structures. I turned back to Tuck. “If my parents are fine where they are, then I won’t see you anytime soon. But when this is all over, if you…if you’re ever this way…” Years from now, when the world is safer, when… I didn’t even know what to say or how to finish that thought. The world offered no guarantees right now, and I couldn’t ask Tuck for any either.

“Ready, Emily?” Leon called.

I met Tuck’s eyes as I tried desperately to hold back my tears and then he grabbed me, hugging me fiercely as I let out a quiet sob. Then he released me and turned away before I could see his face and began walking the other way.

I sucked back my sobs, a lump in my throat causing the air to squeak out on a quiet whistle.

Layne took my hand when I met up with them. “Are you okay?”

No. No, I wasn’t okay. The whistle turned into a soft moan of despair, my heart shattering as a hundred things I needed to say but hadn’t, poured from the cracks. I turned. “Tuck!”

He pivoted, racing toward me as we met in front of the barrier, him catching me as he said my name, holding me and stroking my hair. Tears coursed down my cheeks, and I could hardly find my voice. “I just want to say thank you again. There’s so much, Tuck. I don’t think you truly know. Thank you not just for getting me here, but for keeping me safe, for feeding me and protecting me and—”

“Em, of course. Em, don’t cry.” He sounded broken too, his voice scratchy, eyes filled with such sorrow.

“I just… What I really needed to say is that you’re a good man, Tuck. You’re honorable and fair and so, so good and you’re going to save lives and rescue people. And that’s a wonderful thing, Tuck. Such a valiant goal.” And I love you and something tells me I won’t see you again and I can’t live with myself if I don’t say this to you now.