The Lightkeepers

7

My blanket slipped from my shoulders, the cold air wrapping around my arms. Henry took

the sweater from my outstretched hand and slipped it on over his other sweater, rubbing his hands

together. What any of us wouldn’t give for better winter clothes. He didn’t say anything as I curled

up next to the entrance and drew the blanket tighter across my chest. Instead, he paced by the

windows, looking out over the rest of the park. I stared out at the night sky, which was only just

visible from my position on the floor. If I had been standing, I would’ve seen an endless diamond

sky with a bright, full moon. We did n’t dare go out onto the catwalk or open the windows. The

temperature had dropped considerably after dusk. I could barely make out my brother’s gaunt face

and slimmed features, but surely his nose was as red and raw as mine felt.

“It was them again, wasn’t it?” He whispered softly. He turned around lazily and came to

stand next to me, keenly observing the beach for any moving figures.

I nodded my head numbly. “Yeah.”

He bobbed his head in understanding and squeezed my shoulder. I held his hand there,

using the contact to ground me. I eventually let go, knowing he had to check the other side again.

Turning to me again, he said, “Get some sleep. We gotta find some food tomorrow.”

With that, I stumbled into the darker corridor of the lighthouse, the moon’s ligh t obstructed

by stone. Ellie had sprawled out in her sleep. When she heard me approaching, she picked her head

up and snapped it in my direction. She instantly relaxed when she recognized my very much alive

figure in the shadows. I crawled in and drew the curtains at the entrance to our window seat closed,

pushing her over to make room for me to lay on my side. I fell asleep to her knobby knees digging

into my equally boney back.