There Will Come a Time by Carrie Arcos

time Hanna and I hugged was after Grace’s funeral. She was the one who reached for me, and I just stood there.
    She starts to shake. And I can’t tell if it’s because she’s upset or cold.
    â€œYou okay?” I ask with my mouth close to her ear.
    â€œAll good,” she says, and pushes away. We start walking again.
    â€œThis is amazing at night. This bridge makes me feel like we could be in London.” She lowers her voice. “As if Jack the Ripper is going to walk toward us.” She grabs my arm. Hanna’slike that. She’s always pretending, making up scenarios. Most people stop that when they grow up, but not Hanna. She’d probably be a good writer one day—well, if she actually liked to write. Writing, of course, makes me think of Grace. Everything leads to Grace.
    â€œIt’s safe,” I say, and I link my arm through hers.
    â€œYou’ll protect me?”
    â€œWith all my secret ninja moves,” I say.
    â€œI knew it! You are a spy. Explains a lot.”
    We both laugh.
    â€œYeah, the first Filipino assassin.”
    A car drives by.
    â€œWhat time is it?” she asks.
    I look at my phone. “One thirty.”
    â€œI should get home. Mom will freak if she wakes up and doesn’t find me in my room. Plus it’s way past curfew. We could get in serious trouble.”
    â€œShe checks on you at night?” I wonder if Jenny or Dad check on me. If they do, they don’t say anything.
    â€œSometimes. I hear the door open, but I pretend I’m asleep. Are you still seeing Chris?” she asks, casually, of course, but I know it’s her way of trying to get a read on me.
    â€œNo. Last session was two weeks ago.”
    â€œSo you’re finally free.”
    â€œUnless you go telling someone about tonight.”
    She pushes her shoulder into me. “You know I wouldn’t do that. And thank you.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor showing me where you go. You didn’t have to.”
    â€œYep.” I open my arms wide and spin around as if I’m taking in the whole street. “Big secret revealed. Mark Santos is a midnight bridge stalker.”
    â€œAt least you don’t go around dressing up in a mask and tights like a vigilante.”
    I look at her, surprised. “You really think I’m that crazy?”
    â€œWe’re all that crazy,” she says dryly, and does a little dance as if to show her crazy side.
    â€œNice moves,” I say.
    â€œI was thinking of something Grace used to say yesterday,” she says.
    My body tenses as if she’s going to hit me with her words.
    â€œRemember how she’d say, ‘Whatever happens, happens’?”
    â€œDid she?” I ask. I think about climbing the bars. If Hanna weren’t with me, I’d be over them right now. But she’d probably freak out.
    â€œAll the time, you know that! And I found myself saying it to someone at school yesterday. This girl was telling me about how she wants to get into this college and she’s all nervous aboutit, and it just came out. But it wasn’t like I was saying it. I heard Grace’s voice in my head. And then I kind of laughed because it’s as if a part of her is still here.”
    I’m listening, but not listening, hoping she’ll be done talking soon. I thought it’d be okay bringing Hanna here, that I was ready, but I’m not. I just want to get out of here. I sense Hanna is getting upset as she fidgets next to me.
    â€œWhy do you do that?” she asks.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œGo somewhere else when I bring up Grace.”
    â€œI’m right here next to you. I haven’t gone anywhere.”
    â€œI mean, in your head. It’s like you won’t ever talk about her, like you don’t want me to bring her up around you.”
    â€œWhat the hell am I supposed to say?”
    â€œI don’t know. Something. Anything. It’s like you want