“You’re going to be fine,” he practically choked. “You’re going to be safe and happy and you’re going to sing again because your voice brings people joy. The world needs that so desperately right now, Em. You’re going to make a difference too. Remember that your voice is medicine, Em, as sure as whatever they’ve gathered to treat people within that safe zone overlooking the Pacific Ocean.” He smiled, but it was so very sad. He smoothed back my hair and kissed my forehead, our hands running over each other, memorizing.

“I’m scared to be alone,” I gasped. “But mostly, I’m scared to be without you.”

He used his thumbs to swipe my tears. “No. No, you’re brave and competent, more than you know. And you’ll be safe with them.” He inclined his head back to where Leon and Layne were waiting for me.

I gave a jerky nod and a small hiccup. “Promise me you’ll be safe too. Please take care of yourself sometimes, okay? Promise me.”

“I do, Em. I promise.”

“We were good together, weren’t we? We were a good team. I’ll always remember that, for all my life. I’ll never forget.”

“Me neither. I’ll never forget a moment of it.”

“Emily,” Leon called. “I’m sorry, but we have to get to the next checkpoint while certain guards are on duty.”

I looked back and nodded, pulling in a shaky breath and swallowing down my sobs. Then I leaned up and kissed Tuck on his lips, allowing my mouth to linger before pulling away and then turning and running to Leon and Layne, their expressions filled with sympathy.

This time I didn’t look back.

* * *

The next forty-eight hours were mostly uneventful, and I was grateful. Even fear didn’t penetrate the grief, and I was thankful for that too. The monotonous walking helped as I was able to lull my mind and keep my thoughts at bay. It was when we stopped that the sadness pierced, that the reality Tuck was no longer beside me hit me like a blow.

Just before sunset the next day, we made our way up the side of a rock cliff on a beach in San Diego. I used my hand as a visor to shield my eyes as I looked out to the gray-hued sea, sailboats swaying in a line. “What are they doing?” I asked.

Leon glanced in the direction where I was staring. “Keeping watch.”

“Of what?”

“Of others trying to fish in their water.”

I blinked as I turned away. Their water? Even sections of the ocean were being barricaded now?

The sunset blazed, casting the sky in striations of red and orange. We walked through several quiet neighborhoods that felt mostly abandoned, and then a looted business district.