Half Life

Nathan is enjoying life peacefully as a tree when two old friends, one he thought long dead, force him back into life as a Half Code. He resents them for it. That is, until he discovers that there’s a way he can bring back the one he loves most in the world. Gabriel, the one for whom he’d do anything to hold in his arms once more. But, of course, as always, there’s a price.————————————“Almost there,” Linden says. “Just hold on a little longer, Nathan.”Even though my head feels like it weighs one hundred pounds, I lift it up to stare at Gabriel, and my jaw drops. He’s beautiful. So beautiful. His hair is growing out, almost down to his shoulders now. He’s naked, but I don’t care at all about that.A gasp, a choke, and his chest begins to rise and fall. His eyes are still closed, but he’s breathing. Gabriel is… Tears slip down my face, and my neck is trembling from the effort of holding my head up.I let my head fall back against Nesbitt’s lap. Above me, he whistles before beaming down at me. “He’s back, mate,” he says, his voice celebratory as he shakes my shoulders. “Gabby’s back.”