Before You Let Go
Not take me instead.
Just:
I want to live.
Jun smiled.
“Good,” he said. “Then go back.”
I looked at him. “Can’t you?”
His smile faltered.
“What?”
“Can’t you go back instead?” I asked. “Marisol needs you. Miro needs you. Caelan—”
“No,” Jun said, gently but firmly.
“But—”
“I want to,” he admitted. “God knows I want to. But I’ve been gone too long. If I return, too much breaks. Memories. Grief. The case. Dario. Everything.”