Snod isolated himself behind the bar to make another drink, the rich blood making his head spin. He
watched the party as if he was a total stranger, wishing he could join them, but he knew any further
participation would have been false.
Frankie came up beside him, resting his chin on his shoulder with a warm smile. “It seems so far
away,” he mused. “Doesn’t it?”
“I don’t understand,” Snod said quietly, tilting his head to press against Frankie’s cheek.
“You’re not human,” Frankie sighed, his arms wrapping around Snod’s waist. “Your emotions aren’t
as easy to access anymore. They fade away until you feel nothing but the hunger.”
Snod closed his eyes, finally sensing an emotion he could focus on: anger. “I should be out there with
them,” he said stubbornly. “Sharing stories, laughing, crying... I know I miss him. I know that I should
miss him.”
“It’s all right,” Frankie soothed, always so comforting. “Just try to remember. Think about something
with Rees that you liked, something fun.” His eyes lit up, and he laughed, “What about when you stole
the desk?”
“That was a disaster,” Snod grumbled, but went on as Frankie had instructed. “The ice cream truck he
had was horrendous. He told me to take the wrong desk. And then he broke that window so we could
leave...”
The memories began to tumble over Snod, unable to stop smiling when he recalled the hideous purple
sweater dress Rees had worn. He had looked ridiculous and suddenly there was something stirring in
Snod’s chest.
He was feeling... agony.
Rees was gone. He’d never hear that cackle again or shake his hand.
Rees was dead.
Snod suddenly couldn’t breathe, which was insane because he didn’t need to, but his throat was too
tight. He couldn’t speak, choking back a sob. All of the emotions he had been without were rushing
back to him, and his eyes began to sting despite how hard he tried to hold back.
He hadn’t yet shed a single tear, but when he remembered Rees’ casket lowering down in the grave,
the pressure inside of him broke. He wasn’t just crying for the friend he had lost, but for the part of
himself that had died with him.
Frankie held Snod close to hide his tears as they quickly turned bloody, gently pulling him into the
