yasmina couldn't stay anywhere forever, but she might choose marrow, if she could. ever sentimental, they liked how close-knit it was, how tight they all held onto each other. it was as bitter as it was sweet, but she could pretend, at least in their own head, that it was only sweet. wouldn't it be nice, a town of once-dead now-not, living together and taking care of each other? forever and ever? it was a fleeting fantasy, half-thought and not even really felt. yasmina had a role to play here, but that didn't mean everyone else did; they were just living their lives and those lives were theirs to live. even in a short life, people couldn't help but step on each other, and that was even truer in a long one. there was no reason that had to happen here, to any of them, and she felt an odd sense of responsibility for a town that had lost so many and had not truly gotten them back. there was no reason to push the knife deeper. it would already take so long for the wound to heal, if it ever truly did. the presence of someone else reminded them that they were at a party. her smile grew on its own as she stepped out of their way, realizing she was standing in the way of the plates. "oh, sorry!" they said, stepping to the side. "go ahead, pleaseāhave you tried the cornbread yet?"













