Hanging. I knew it, didn’t I? It would be something terrible. But what execution isn’t?

“The sentence will be carried out swiftly and with a compassion you do not deserve. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.” He slams his gavel down and stands, and somehow, we all get to our feet as the three walk out of the room, and I turn to watch as my brother, in a moment of panic as the guards take hold of his arms, turns his face up to us. To our father or to me, I can’t tell.

He opens his mouth to say something, and I realize he must have been looking at my father because when my father bows his head, a tear drops from Abel’s eye, and he bows his, too. And, without a word and without protest, he is led out of the courtroom through the same door he had been brought into it.

I turn to my father and take his hand.

He looks at it, then up at me, and I see the agony on his face.

He pats my hand. “It’s right, Ivy. It’s what has to be.”

I hug him and hold him as he tries to stop the sobs. It’s a long few minutes before he shuffles past me and leaves The Tribunal building alone. I do not know if he will witness Abel’s execution.

Santiago walks me down and out of the courtroom where Marco is patiently waiting, his face, too, grave.

“Marco will take you home,” Santiago says, and I know he will stay to witness. I don’t blame him, and I don’t ask him to come with me. I had before. I had asked him not to watch, but I realize it wasn’t my place to do that. My brother stole so much from him. And Santiago needs closure.

I nod. But there’s one thing. I want to say goodbye. I want to tell Abel goodbye. But I know I won’t be allowed to see him, so I reach into my purse and take out a folded note. I hand it to Santiago.

He looks from the note to me.

“I want him to know I forgive him,” I say. Santiago must give me this. This is my closure even though I know he doesn’t believe Abel deserves forgiveness.

Santiago studies me for a long minute before he squeezes his eyes shut and closes his hand over mine. “You are too good for this world,” he says, and slips the paper from my fingers to his.

I reach up to cup his face. “I love you. And I understand what you need to do,” I tell him before leaning up on tiptoe to kiss him. I feel his deep, shuddering inhale of breath.

It’s over.