x's

ngle line of the doc

urring into something meaningless no matter how many times I tried to force my focus back onto them. M

on. Meetings happened. People walked with purpose. Phones ran

hing ex

er into my eyes until light fractured behind them. For a moment, I stayed like that, hol

ched for my

t there, I p

lling something tight across my chest. I listened until it cu

elf time to think b

rang. And t

e than necessary before immediately reaching for it again. My thumb h

anyway.

tened to the automated message, her voice absen

started, t

to a different version of me, one that had not a

all without le

felt small

r behind me. My jacket hung over the backrest; I grabbed it

oked up the mome

have a me

cut in, already moving p

thrown off, but nodded

not slo

ticking down with an almost deliberate slowness. I shifted my weig

ing lot, my thoughts had narrowed in

ed to s

I stopped at intersections, though I could not recall making the decision to do so. My grip on th

she not a

her building, my chest felt tight, li

here for a moment, my hands

I step

p landed heavier, deliberate, as if the gro

d once. T

ugh the hallway, swallowed qui

an

the door, my ears straining

again, louder this

ed for my phone once more. I dialed her number, lifting it

for a moment longer before knocking again, harder

ock cl

just enough for a

op

a split second before her expression hardened,

ed to clos

, my hand pressing agains

Wa

old approach," she said coolly. "Showing up uninvited and then physi

d to se

sement. "Of course you do. That seems to be a pattern

aze, steady.

ely. "So you can finish whatev

ned. "I am not

her head slightly. "Apologize? Rewrite history? Pretend you

did

nough to carry weight. "Do not stand here and try to e

," I said, forcing my tone t

reading through it now. "That is all," she repeate

d slowly.

htening. "You do not get to say my name l

into the apartment, searchi

here, is sh

ost satisfied flickering there. "You cam

r the q

er gaze dragging over my face a

ou said. After everything you did. What exactly ch

ngers flexing sligh

see her,"

shaking her head slightl

he only o

moment, then laughed softly,

ng about what you need," she said. "It would alm

e strain creeping into my voice despite my eff

t her, say a few carefully chosen words, and

walking awa

outh before I could

something flickering across he

he said slowly. "It would have m

rom behind her,

oph

shoulders shifting as he

sion composed, though there was something

," I said, strai

lied, her tone polite but distan

e to se

moment, taking in more t

uld that be?

f the question settling mo

eak with her,"

ncredulous breath. "That s

lightly, silencing her wit

he said, her voice even. "Before things reached

tened. "What d

ued, her tone steady, "

as if the answer might cha

ill she

d my gaze. "Sh

felt narrow

stion more quietly now, edged with

slightly against the doorframe.

m ask

osing not to ans

ck at Mrs. H

in her expression, just slightly

id. "And for now, that

ent longer, the silence

he movement slower tha

lri

expecting me to push further, to a

tepped back, my hand fal

ex," Mrs. Har

y head slight

losed with

wood where it had been open seconds before,

of my footsteps following me down the hal