Chapter 12 - Boone’s Last Visit to Samuel
Samuel was weaker when we arrived.
Boone walked slowly into the bedroom.
Samuel opened his eyes.
“There’s my boy.”
Boone placed his head beside Samuel’s hand.
Arthur stood quietly near the door.
Samuel looked at him.
“Come here.”
Arthur approached.
Samuel touched Boone.
“He saved Lily.”
“I know.”
“He saved you.”
Arthur nodded.
Samuel smiled.
“Now you saved him.”
Arthur’s eyes filled.
Samuel died peacefully six days later.
Lily called us that morning.
Arthur sat on the porch with Boone for nearly an hour afterward.
No television.
No phone.
No words.
Finally, he whispered:
“Another survivor gone.”
I sat beside him.
“No.”
Arthur looked at me.
I touched Boone.
“Part of him is sitting right here.”
At Samuel’s memorial, Lily gave Arthur something.
The old collar.
May you like
The one Samuel had originally asked him to take.
This time Arthur accepted.
