"A'ight. A'ight." Punchy finally stops and kneels down, her in his arms like some ersatz Pieta. He used to fight these moments, to believe that if he just fought it hard enough nothing was inevitable. He knows better now.

He's held too many people as they've died not to.

He holds her close, tears running down the side of his nose. "I'm going to come save you, shawty. Won't nothing hold me 'til I do."