#jade trilogy

On some level, he did not yet believe that Hilo was gone and expected his cousin to walk through the door at any minute. The mind cannot adjust quickly to a fundamental change in reality without breaking. If the moon vanished from the sky, people would not believe it; they would think it was a trick of light or clouds. Anden felt it would be a long time before he accepted the truth.

Anden stopped on the street corner and raised his face to the sky. He felt heavy and light at the same time, and the world seemed sharp and beautiful... There was an ache in his chest --- some of the grief that had been arriving in pieces -- but also relief, and love. Love for the life pumping through his heart and veins, love for those dear to him -- the ones who were gone and the ones who remained, and love also for his city...