BURNED EMPIRE
"Every time I think we've found solid ground, something shifts underneath it again. I don't know how much more of this either of us can absorb before Thursday actually arrives."
"We absorb whatever we need to," George said, reaching for my hand across the console. "One piece at a time. That's how we've survived every other version of this fight. I don't see any reason tonight should be different."
I nodded, drawing whatever strength I could from the steadiness in his voice, and we finally headed back inside together, the porch light glowing warm against the dark, both of us bracing for whatever the coming hours would demand of us next.