Physical wounds healed quickly. Lynn's nose was forever misshapen, and her jawline was different, lumpier. Cuts became scars, and tears mended. The mental trauma took longer. Luan laughed less. Lincoln had nightmares every night for years about his confrontation with Krog, only this time, the gun clicked uselessly. He would wake from these dreams panting and covered in sweat. Mom became more protective, smothering even, and while everyone knew why, it still grated on them, which led to arguments.

Starting in his twentieth year, Lincoln visited the graves of John Krog and James Murphey annually, just to piss on their tombstones. A rumor Lincoln read online once stated that the paramedics could have saved Ferret, but chose not to. Lincoln hoped it was.

He hoped it was.