She added on with a voice that barely qualified as alive.
"Please. You shouldn't make enemies of them just because of a worthless person like me."
I looked down at her.
"Worthless?" Something tightened behind my ribs. "What are you even saying?"
I bent down. One knee pressing into the dirt. My hand extended toward the piece of dried meat she was still clinging to with everything her body had left.
She saw my gesture. Understood it. But her fingers refused to let go. Her grip tightened even further around it. Like the meat was stitched to her palms.
But I didn't pull back. Didn't rush her. Just kept my hand there. Open. Patient.
Eventually the resistance left her fingers. Trembling. Defeated. She placed the piece into my palm like she was handing over the last thing she owned in this world.
Because she probably was.
I brought it closer. Scanned it. Dusted the dirt off its surface with my thumb. Then spoke without looking up.
