“Niel, do you remember the floorboards?”

My eyes sprang open. Joely! He told me I needed to rely on myself. I didn’t think I would see him again. Of course, I wasn’t going to let him know I was relieved to hear from him so soon. After all, I hadn’t won all those games of Fool the Soldier by showing my true feelings.

I mentally rolled my eyes. We already played this game, Joely. You know I remember.

Joely, as expected, stamped his foot. “Let me finish! What did your father say to you?”

What do you mean? He couldn’t talk. He’s pretending to be emptied, and you know that.

“Talking isn’t just words. He gave you a message.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and r...

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