It took Vin awhile to decide which was worse.

It was bad when the bullet in his spine moved and his legs went numb. If he was standing, he'd fall. If he was sleeping, he'd wake up in a panic that he couldn't move. It was bad when the bullet moved and sent him into such agonizing pain that sometimes he cried out.

Once he screamed.

The worst was that he'd lose control of his body, and there was nothing he could do but accept Nathan's help to get himself cleaned up. The worst was to see the helplessness in all his friends' eyes. Nothing they could do but watch him suffer, and guard him when he was helpless.

And wait to see if his legs would come back.

Now, as Vin left a painstakingly scrawled note for Chris on the bed in his room: "sory Chris telll othurs goodbie" and on foot led his horse out of town just before dawn, Vin knew what was even worse than the pain and the numbness.

When there was no pain or numbness.

That was the worst.

Because it gave him hope.