EMBER’S POV

Queenie’s hand tightens on Rayana’s so hard I can see the knuckles whiten.

“No. No, no, no. You told everyone six months. You SAID six months, Rayana.”

“Six months was the number from three months ago. The disease didn’t get the memo about pacing itself, and my body has been less than cooperative with the ‘fighting it’ part of the programme.” She looks between us and the smile she attempts doesn’t land anywhere near where she aimed it. “Dr. Patel used the phrase ‘aggressive trajectory,’ which is medical speak for ‘start saying your goodbyes.’ And that was twelve days ago. So whatever’s left of those two weeks is…”...