Kenzi’s shifted as if she were about to chant or offer a prayer. ”I’m grateful, Lauren, I mean it…for you. You saved me.”

”We saved each other.” Lauren blushed at her friend’s honesty.

”I didn’t mean to be a buzz kill.”

”I got something to tell you—you’re a softie.” Lauren grabbed the neck of the moonshine and handed it to Kenzi.

Kenzi shrugged. ”Naah.”

”For a second, you sounded like Hale.” Lauren regretted it instantly. ”I’m sorry.”

”Don’t be. I did sound like him just then and we should stop tiptoeing around like Hale or Bo didn’t happen. No matter how far we run, their ghosts are gonna chase us down. And in case you’re wondering, we’re at the end of the world. So why not just ask them to pull up a chair and sit down?”

”Because it’s hard.”

”I call bullshit,” she slurred. ”What did you say to me the first time we took out the bus?”

Lauren remembered on one of their first medical runs through the jungle Kenzi had wept inconsolably inside the bus at the sight of the living conditions of the locals—entire families crowded into single room shacks without water, plumbing or electricity, living literally on a hand-to-mouth existence. It was especially hard for Kenzi to see babies without any baby fat. Kenzi straightened up, mimicking the doctor’s patrician posture. ”They are not to be pitied, these people. Not a one.”

Kenzi’s eyes sparkled even drunk. ”I think we can put an end to our pity party, once and for all.” Kenzi poured them both shots and raising hers, she offered, ”To Team Human! We kick ass.”

Lauren picked up her glass. ”And to forgiveness.”

”Who are we forgiving?”

”I don’t know…life. Bo. Myself.” Lauren paused, rolling her eyes to the heavens, sobering up for a moment. ”I want to forgive her for being a…dope.”

”You can say dick. Shithead. Wanker.”

”At last, the proper use of wanker.” Lauren grinned, earning one back herself.

”And I’ll always love Hale…and sad as it may be at times, life’s still worth living. Hale would want me to be happy.” Kenzi seemed to ponder something greater than the gash she’d been living across her heart. ”And I want that, too.”

They each threw back their shots without wincing this time. The milky liquid seeped into their skin and tickled them giddy. They were becoming familiar with the songs playing on the jukebox and had been humming, when Lauren slammed her palms on the table with a hard and audible smack.