She turns away from him, fixing her gaze on her door.

"I told 'im I'd never let him hurt you," she murmurs, just barely audibly.

Then, with a bit more strength in her voice: "I promised I'd do whatever it took, t'keep you safe. But I know now how stupid I was.

"I've been shit at keepin' y'all safe. I been too wrapped up in myself, an' what I wanted, and what I thought was right. If I really wanted t'protect you, I would'a left a long time 'go. But I didn't--"

--want to go. It was Green Lake all over again. It was my daddy's farm that I was being evicted from, while the Crockers grew fat and rich off our land. It was Trout Walker, not Ramon, and I was too hot to see that I was giving him exactly what he wanted.

"Everythin'."

Every reason in the world to fight her, and take away all the things she loves, and make it look like justice.

She swallows, snapping herself back to the present, and shakes her head. She's hugging herself now, as she paces towards the door.

"I know I was wrong, an' I'm sorry. But you won't have t'worry 'bout it no more. You'll be 'right. An' I'll live on."

Without this place. Without what's left of my home.



It's my responsibility.

(It's the only way.)