Ouroboros Spine kuagak

he stays at your side often.
something about the phrase broke peregrine. he felt the tears forming before he had a chance to stop them and silently they formed a darkened trail down his cheeks.
he must be so disappointed.
moonwoman's next words made him feel as if he was choking; the boy strains, muscles clenched, squeezing shut his eyes and forcing himself to inhale and exhale. he was almost dead. the universe had handed him right to the pearly gates, and god had turned him away. or perhaps it had been satan, or some other unworldly, unknowable force. whatever it was apparently disregarded him in the same way the mortal world often seemed to.
but why? he could have, should have just —
why did you keep me alive?