There are a thousand things I wish I could say to her, but I know it’s better to keep silent. For now, I just need to get us down and over the street, maybe cut through a few backyards, and at least make sure she’s safe inside with Pavel before bullets start flying.
“I can run,” she whispers.
I shake my head and keep walking with her cradled in my arms. “Blood trail. Your knee will give us away.”
I don’t tell her I’m worried she’s too weak to keep running. That she looks too frail, too traumatized, to move as quickly as she needs to in order to survive this escape.
I can’t tell her that I’m too scared to let her go, even if it would make running easier for both of us.
I have to be strong.
I have to be fearless.
I have to keep my head on straight.
Clara needs the best of me.
part00
