Page 114 of Every Shattered Note

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I glance back toward the camera, the red light fading to black.

“No,” I say quietly.“I just stopped bleeding for free.”

ChapterForty-Seven

Private Message | EchoZone Internal Chat

From: AlyEuphoriaEvents

To: MustLoveMusic

Date: March 7, 2001 8:49 PM

Subject: Today

Dex,

I watched it.

I told myself I wouldn’t—not live.

But I did.

I watched every second.Sat in my apartment, gripping the remote like it was the only thing holding me together.

I didn’t breathe, didn’t look away.

You were brave.

You were you.

Not the version the world distorted.Just were, just...my Dex.

You said you weren’t asking for forgiveness.

But maybe you’ll get it anyway.

Not from them.Maybe not from yourself.

But maybe from someone who knows what it means to survive without ever calling it that out loud.

—A

ChapterForty-Eight

Private Message | EchoZone Internal Chat

From: MustLoveMusic

To: AlyEuphoriaEvents

Date: March 7, 2001 10:06 PM

Subject: Re: Today

Aly,

I had the feeling you were watching.

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