Chapter 30

He gave me a weak smile but, when I made to rise, he clumsily grabbed one of my hands.

“What?” I said, feeling my heart squeeze with pity.

“It’s just,” he managed to get out, “if this is—it—just want to say—” he gave a weak grin that twisted my heart, “—it’s been—fun.”

I nodded, feeling tears run down my cheeks. And his eyes, they were still the same beautiful blue, but they seemed a little uncertain now.

“Yes,” I said. “It has.” But then I added fiercely, “But it’s notthe end! You—hold on! Okay?”

He looked at me in a way that was, perhaps for the first time, completely open. And what I saw through that openness was unmistakable—love. A moment later, however, he let go my hand and sank back weakly, closing his eyes and murmuring, still smiling vaguely, “Saving my energy—”

And now, as an icy fire of determination began to pump through my veins, I felt even worse. It was up to me. And I wanted to say that he was notgoing to die like this, but I didn’t know what to do.