And so it goes —

For a time. Not a long one, not so long as you'd think. Longer still than anything real. Maybe that's what finally stalls him, fingers dug into Ellis' side and gripping for air. Comes a time you can't pretend what's holding you up.

He starts to make a noise. Maybe it sounds a little like sorry, but it sounds a lot more like a cough. Wet, ugly. Look it in the mouth and you'd call it a sob,

So he shuts it. Quick enough to be true.