My Love,

We camped near the Lance. None spoke for hours. Then, one by one, voices rose.

Tina forced a laugh. “He’d be furious if we sat here moping.” Emily nodded. “He’d tell us to string our bows tighter.” Xty wiped her eyes, whispering, “He told me to laugh while casting... I’ll never stop.”

Bam Bam flicked a knife between his fingers. “His shield bought us this far. Don’t waste it.”

Finally, Jack spoke. “We are Bobas. We walk on.”

His words steadied us more than any song.

Darial, something changed that night. We were no longer strangers bound by chance. We were one body, one will. For John, for each other, for the world.

I felt hope again.

Kyle