EXCOLO

"The same thing you've always done, Karina: be as gracious and lovely as ever. Honestly, I'm just a simple farmer next to you and it's intimidating to face you in an election, but I will." I blush as he brushes a curl from my face, from his proximity and what he's said. "You've been in Excolo for what? Fifteen years now? Town's always known what you did for business so why should it matter now? You're a pillar of the community, Karina. No one's run you out and even if they tried, I know that more people would stand with you, than against you." I start to interrupt, insisting that what they know of him is much better than what they know of me, but Jamie takes my other hand, as well, and leans forward, speaking softly. "If you don't run, Karina, then someone else will and I'd really like for Excolo have two good choices, instead of one. It's our town, Karina. Who's going to look out for it, if we don't?"

My eyes go to our hands.

Our town. Something he and I share, yes, but it has so much meaning to me, beyond his appeal to me. This town belongs to Edmund and Jamie and people like them. And if they can support someone like me running, and include me in with the likes of them, who am I to fight that? Who doesn't want somewhere to belong, a home? Don't I deserve one after the life I've lead? I feel a tear in my eye, but it's not of pain or sadness. I'm truly touched he came to me. I smile slowly as I raise my eyes to his.

"You fight dirty," I whisper.