Marta let Ezra's touch and words soothed her. She believed him, that his days of being just a pawn were over. Marta feared what it meant for him though, how much he would be punished or what the other men may do to him. She did her best not to think on it too much, lest she drive herself crazy. As they finished the walk back up to the cottage, Marta saw Jeremiah glaring at them. She just stared at him stone-faced, not letting him know how she felt or anything going on in her mind. But inside Marta was feeling so many emotions. 

Dinner was quick and awkward, since only the ladies and Jeremiah ate. Marta barely touched her food, not wanting to make it harder for Ezra. She couldn't even understand why fasting was necessary, if anything, they should be eating as much as possible to build up their strength. It just added another item to her list of reasons for hating Jeremiah now. As they finished dinner, Jeremiah stood, "Say your goodbyes boys, we are leaving in five."

Marta frowned. It was too soon, she wanted more time with Ezra. She wanted to hold him, and talk to him. She wanted to kiss him, touch his skin, repeat what they did in the forest. But they couldn't and the worst part was not knowing when it would happen again. She watched as Isiah and Atalia went outside to spend their time together alone. Marta turned to Ezra and tried to give him a smile, but her lips trembled as a few tears escaped her eyes. She leaned over in her chair and wrapped her arms around his neck, the position being awkward, Marta simply just moved all the way over and climbed onto his lap, straddling his legs, her knees bent and tucked under herself. She buried her head in his neck, inhaling his scent and clinging to his shirt. She didn't care who was watching. Pulling back, she leaned in for a kiss filling it with all the love she could muster. She wanted Ezra to not forget what it felt like to kiss her, she wanted him to leave with the ghost of lips on his for the rest of the day, even the week. 

Jeremiah cleared his throat, but Marta continued the kiss, not caring what the older man wanted. Finally, she pulled back, mainly for the fact her lungs needed oxygen, but also because she thought of something. She stood from Ezra's lap, "Wait here." She then turned and ran over and climbed the ladder to her loft. She wanted to get Ezra something. Reaching under her mattress she pulled out a book, the book of Shakespeare Sonnets she and Ezra would read together. She had taken it with her the night they had to flee the Baer's house. The page with the sonnet they first read together, Sonnet 18-Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day, was tagged. Marta read the sonnet to herself every night. Inside the book she also carefully tucked the picture of Ezra with his parents. She never got a chance to give it to him after she had taken it. 

Not wanting Jeremiah to confiscate the book, Marta grabbed one of Ezra's sweaters that had ended up in her bag. Marta has worn it to bed every night, letting her mind pretend it was Ezra's arms around her. She carefully folded the sweater, the book hiding inside and climbed down the stairs. She walked over and handed it to Ezra, "I thought you might need this." She looked into his eyes as she handed him the sweater in a way that would let him feel the book, but understanding to not let it be known he felt it. Together they walked out hand-in-hand and got ready to say goodbye again.

Marta saw Isiah and Atalia hugging and sharing a kiss before Isiah got into the car. Marta faced Ezra, she did her best to be brave. She pulled him down for another swift kiss, pulling back a little and whispered against his lips, "Come back to me."

She then watched as Ezra got into the car, Jeremiah barely giving him any time to shut the door before speeding off. Atalia walked over and Marta reached over and clung onto her hand. Both of them watching the loves of their lives leaving again.