“Fuck,” Terry said. I’d never heard him swear, never heard his voice so low.

I opened my eyes to the bleeding gash across Lee’s ankle.

“What happened?” Terry asked.

“My foot got stuck in the rocks,” Lee said. “I shouldn’t have been down there.”

“You went by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Lee,” he admonished.

“Sorry,” Lee said, his voice so small.

“Hold on.” Terry headed to the bathroom. “I’m getting the gauze.”

“You’re still shaking,” Liz said to me. “We need to get you warmed up.”

“I just want to go to bed,” I said.

I stood up.

“Take care of her,” Terry said to Liz. “Watch over her. Okay?” He was taking a half dozen items from a huge first aid kit.

“Of course,” Liz said.

I started to stand but Lee pulled my arm. “Wait.” He grabbed me around the neck and raised his mouth to my ear. “The poppies were a present. I didn’t know anything then. Remember? I was just so happy you were here. But the earrings, the shells . . . I thought you wanted me to. I thought it would help . . . like you said.”

“Help?” I asked him, pulling away.

He nodded. He tightened his grip, drew me even closer until I felt his breath on my cheek, his lips touching my ear.

“Help you not be afraid.”

___

It all came back to me.

The fairy tales. The drawing of my ghost. The words I’d spoken as I tried to help him: We have to face the things that scare us. It might be the only way to stop being afraid. It all came back and I understood and I had to leave the kitchen.

I couldn’t stay a moment longer in the house, but once I was crossing the field with Liz by my side, my legs weakened and I had to lean against her for support. I let her lead me to our bathroom instead of to my cabin. I didn’t even know what I wanted, anyway.

She turned the water on as hot as it would go. I was soaking wet and shaking and I didn’t know what to do. My arms were limp at my sides. I had never been so tired.

“I’ve done such terrible things,” I sobbed. “I did such a terrible thing.”

“No,” she said. “You just saved Lee.”

“I’m not talking about that.” I was sobbing so hard I could barely breathe, but the words spilled out anyway.

“I’m going to help you undress,” Liz said. “Okay?”

“Okay.”

Off came the soaking wet sweater.