The Third Breath, page 8 of 12

Pip sits on the flat grey stone under an enormous hot sky, Dawn resting low in the water nearby and the folded leaf drying on the sand, both quiet.

They stayed by the stone while the sun went about its business.

The bell lay on the sand, drying.

Nobody said anything for a long time, and then nobody said anything for a while longer.

© 2026 A.J.Sharpe