"Ask him why he was waiting."
Jude's expression changed.
"Were you waiting for me?"
Sol nodded.
"Why?"
The boy looked towards the forest.
"Because someone told me to find you."
"Who?"
Sol didn't answer.
The second boy raised his hand.
"I did."
The forest went silent.
Jude stared at him.
"You sent him?"
The second Sol nodded.
"Before the mountain woke. Before the doors opened. Before the first house remembered."
Jude looked at the child beside him.
"Is that true?"
Sol's face had become very still.
Then he nodded.
"Yes."
Jude slowly released his shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to."
"When?"
"Every time."
"Then why didn't you?"
Sol looked up.
"Because I didn't know which memories were mine."
Jude said nothing.
The boy continued.
"Sometimes I remember the beach. Sometimes I remember the house. Sometimes I remember a room with no windows. Sometimes I remember standing beneath the tree."
He paused.
"And sometimes I remember you."
