She leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice though her face remained unreadable.
"Are you really going to skip years?"
Nnenna didn't break stride. "Yes. I am."
Ava's mouth parted in a quiet gasp. She actually slowed down for a second, as if the answer was too absurd to process.
"You're crazy," she finally declared, her tone caught between awe and disbelief.
Nnenna almost smiled, her steps lighter despite her exhaustion. "Maybe."
"I thought about doing it too," Ava admitted after a long pause. Her voice was soft now, as though she were confessing a secret. "When I heard you might try, I wondered if I could do it. But…" She sighed and glanced away. "I don't think I'm that brave."
Nnenna's brows lifted. For a moment she forgot all about Arthur's cold gaze and Carl's warm advises.
Ava, perfect, untouchable Ava, sounded almost…human.
"Well," Ava continued, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve, "I'll cheer you on. At least one of us should be extraordinary."
