“I can show you I’m ready for more,” Lett said. “Remember you promised I could get a letter to my wife, to Heloise?”

“I did. The offer stands. Is she still your wife? I never asked you.”

“It’s a good question. We’re separated.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Does anyone else know about her?” Lett said.

“Here?” Selfer said. “No. This one is just between us.”

“Okay,” Lett said. He pulled out the letter he’d grabbed from inside his bungalow. He held it out for Selfer. Selfer unfolded it and read:

My Love,

I hope with all my might that you receive this letter. It probably took some time getting to you. I’m well and safe. I can’t tell you where I am, but as you may have guessed I’m receiving the cure to my problem.

I should’ve listened to you and never should’ve ever returned to the front line. If I hadn’t, I never would’ve seen the things I had, nor done them, nor become this shell of a man with a mechanical beast living inside him. They wrecked me just like you said. The warmongers, the opportunists, they use men like me like matches for cigarettes.

You were also right to make me leave you and go find a cure for it.

I’m part of a special classified program that promises a solution. By participating, I won’t have to go to prison. I’m putting all my faith in it, and in the people running things. It’s my only hope. I’m getting good help so far. In fact, it’s much warmer here than home. That’s all I can say about things. But I take them all as a good sign.

You won’t hear from me again, not until I’m healed for good. That could take some time.

I remain strong just thinking of how strong you are. Hug our good boy for me and tell him I love him and that I’ll see him again one day, provided that I beat this thing.

Destroy this letter as soon as you read it.

Je t’embrasse,

W. L.