I nodded slowly, sensing a flicker of truth in his words, but failing to digest it.

“My brothers did not ask me to come again. And so, for years, until I took to the field, I had no shoes. My feet bruised up and I stubbed my toe until the blood ran.” He nodded to the mangled mess of his feet, one foot with four toes.

I winced.

“Arika, please, when you write my story, write this first: in my next life, we must remember to be miserable. We must make a terrible fuss. Fuss until we got all three. Shirt, pants—” He choked and held up three fingers.

“I understand. Shirt, pants, and shoes. I got it, Kiwi. I’ve got it written down.”

He began to cough, making a soft pecking noise that, I knew, signified death.

William came with a straight-edge razor.

“It’s no good,” I said, holding back tears. “He’s moving too much. We need a ventilator! Where is Robin!?”

William sat down and hummed softly as I supported Kiwi’s upper half. Suddenly, I had an idea. “There’s a technique I read about,” I said. “Hurry, William! Help me lay him down.”

“What you do?”

Grunting, I lifted Kiwi’s head from my lap. In my hurry, my neat chignon loosened and my hair fell to my waist. “I’m going to breathe for him,” I said.

William looked skeptical.

“Please, just help me.” I took off my white mask and removed Kiwi’s black scarf.

“Arika,” William said, his voice low.

Ignoring his warning, I ordered him again to help me. William obeyed. He held Kiwi’s weight while I positioned the old man flat on the ground. After, William held my hair as I bent over to squeeze Kiwi’s nose shut. When he stopped coughing, I blew into his mouth. Nothing happened. I tried again, and his chest rose. He twitched, and gave a harsh cough. Something cold landed on my chin, and I wiped it away, ignoring the smell. “Look, he coughed. It’s working!”

William nodded, grimly.

I managed to prolong Kiwi’s life by an hour as my knees grew cold, then painful. My legs went numb, and the difference between Kiwi’s breath and mine shrank to nothing. At some point, my back seized. William pushed me aside and took over. I retook my position as soon as I could—breathing and blowing, barely using the air before giving it over. I did this until two strong hands took my shoulders and pulled me away.

It was Hosea. “Arika. He’s gone.”

“No!”

“He is, look! You’re prolonging his suffering.” He forced my chin up.