te

at noon with a

7. Wear th

idn't

told myself she

rpose, letting the

benevolent King granting me

at the Vil

the moment I cros

li

oyer was dro

le; petals littered the

l, though I reminded mys

as I stepped deepe

" I cal

as my onl

e for the flickering ca

nto the di

was set

was sto

manded of the maid c

m all day, sir," she

flared ho

defying

y phone and di

ou have dialed i

as the automated

n ser

irs, my patience fra

aight to h

or," I warned, my vo

ait. I pus

made. Perf

sm

no one had slep

closet and threw

thes we

in the center, mo

lined up in mil

thing wa

tale, devoid

o the je

s I gave he

alds. Th

drawer where she k

pt

skipped

o!" I

in the doorway secon

," I orde

of her bed, the silence of

omething in t

in and pul

the pho

the pictures

om the fire when our fir

s book more t

it in the trash lik

avy, settled in th

uca's contact

te button, my hand shaki

game, you lose. Get back here in an hour, or I

ent

n't de