The moment her arms wrap around me, I hug her back just as tight—maybe tighter. My breath catches in my throat, and I can’t stop grinning, wide and ridiculous and maybe a little teary too, but I don’t care.
“It’s so—so good to meet you,” I say, all in a rush, like if I don’t say it fast enough the feeling might burst out of my chest anyway.
And then Mom kisses the side of my head, and gods, I could float. My face is gonna split from smiling, it actually hurts, but I don’t stop.
Until—
Wait.
She’s leaving me. Alone. With Vai.
My stomach does a thing. Not a bad thing, just a… moment-of-panic thing. Like when you think there’s one more stair and there isn’t, and suddenly your soul is outside your body for a hot second.
I met Ronin and Remi, sure, and I somehow survived that without imploding, but now it’s just me and her and this moment and my brain is already sprinting in six directions.
Still, I square my shoulders. I can do this. I am doing this. I’m nineteen and winging it and standing in front of one of my heroes and I don’t spontaneously combust. That’s something..
I glance up at her, still a little breathless. “Um—what… should I call you?” I ask, and then my mouth keeps going because it always does. “I’ve been so excited to meet you ever since Remi told me you were coming. Like, actually buzzing.”
but my god, you're alive and it's spectacular
