“I think maybe everyone falls... I think the asking is whether we get back up again.”

“Here's what I think," I say and my voice is stronger and thoughts are coming, thoughts that trickle into my noise like whispers of truth. "I think maybe everybody falls," I say. "I think maybe we all do. And I don't think that's the asking." I pull on her arms gently to make sure she's listening."I think the asking is whether we get back up again.”

“It's not how we fall. It's how we get back up again.”

“You won't," says the Mayor, smiling again. "Everyone knows you aren't a killer, Todd."He pushes Viola forward again -She calls out from the pain of it -Viola, I think -Viola -I grit my teeth and raise the rifle -I cock it -And I say what's true -"I would kill to save her," I say.”

“We all fall but that's not what matters. What matters is picking yourself up again.”

“I don't think so," the Mayor buzzes -And my feet stop running -But then I pick up one -And then the other -And I'm running for it again -I hear the Mayor laugh behind me. "Well done," he says.”

“I'll ask ye this once," the woman says, lifting the rifle again. "Am I gonna need this?"I exchange a glance with Viola."No," I say."No, mam," Viola says.Mam? I think."It's like sir, bonny boy." The woman slings the rifle over her shoulder by its strap. "For if yer a-talking to a lady.”