Author name: Hauda.A

ARCHER Two weeks before the wedding. Principal Joel calls me into his office. “Archer, I have some news.” “Good or […]

WILLA One month before the wedding. We’re filling out marriage license paperwork. “Name after marriage?” The clerk asks. I look

ARCHER Two months before the wedding. Official letter from the FBI. “Witness protection status: TERMINATED. All restrictions lifted. Archer Saint

ARCHER We tell everyone we’re engaged. Mom cries. Sierra squeals. Lennox demands to be maid of honor. Marcus asks if

WILLA Three months post-Malcolm. We’re planning our future. For real this time. “I got a job offer,” Archer says over

ARCHER Week six. Final physical therapy session. “Full range of motion restored,” the therapist says. “You’re cleared for normal activities.”

WILLA Surgery takes four hours. I wait in the family room. Pacing. Praying. Panicking. Tobias sits with me. Silent support.

ARCHER I’m unarmed. Malcolm has Willa. And I’m completely fucked. But I don’t care. As long as she lives, nothing

WILLA Three weeks since I last spoke to Archer. I’m almost ready to call him. Almost. I miss him. I

WILLA Two weeks. Two weeks since I walked away from Archer. Lennox says I’m being stubborn. Sierra says I’m being