We had buried the last of our dead two days after Elise woke. And I walked past the graves that morning before leaving for Eldermarch.
But the estate was alive again. Children had started appearing outside. The kitchen was loud in the mornings. Fighters were back on regular patrol instead of waiting for another attack every time a vehicle came up the road.
And people smiled at Elise when they saw her.
When I left that morning, she'd been sitting near her bedroom window with a blanket over her legs.
Callum waited beside the truck. "You ready?"
I looked toward the house once more.
Elise had wanted to come, but the doctor had said no. For once, I agreed with him.
"She'll still be here when we get back," Callum said.
I got into the truck.
The drive to Eldermarch took most of the morning. Neither of us talked much.
