[ Before, it felt like an insult to compare Harold’s machine to a flesh and blood child. An offense that Carver couldn’t think to do anything except brittle and order him out, lest they both become entangled in a way that no one, not even the dead, can take back.

Now?

Carver just bows his head and strokes Bear’s silky fur. He accepts it as truth because that’s all there is in this moment. Uneasy, grief-born truths. ]

I tried so hard not to scare Matthew, [ he explains softly. ] He didn’t like seeing bodies. He wanted—

[ The words trail off. ]

It doesn’t matter. He was the best thing I ever did. But you…

You were better for her.