rived wit

the curtains. For a moment, I considered calling in sick. Claiming a migraine.

had never be

asleep when I left, curled beneath her blanket, breathing evenly. I watched her for a second lon

eople hurried past with purpose. I blended into them e

t barely let me take two steps

wants to

ach tig

you, and headed straight fo

in,

on his tablet. His tie was slightly loosened. His

ning, sir

t his watch. "Let's go

adlines, revisions. He listened without interruption

ished, he

ok nice

t a casual observation, delivered witho

," I repli

fice without

o mention of Friday. By mid-afternoon, I almost convinced myself that nothin

s packing up my desk w

id, "what's on my

e a reservation at Ar

d slowly

use, "I don't wa

ed up

ed," he added qu

t I had told

d, I n

g. Soft music. Mostly empty tables. He ordered wh

rything except the tension humming just beneath

through my limbs. By his third, hi

I said, glanc

little

st

oom t

them too fast to make sense of. I grabbed the back of

de me, steadying my

d too quickl

lights

ything w

unfamili

room felt suspended in time, quiet in a way that made my s

ned m

lay bes

om my lungs. My heart slammed violently against my

ait for hi

. My fingers fumbled with buttons. Zippers. Shoes. I was terrified that if I

thout loo

plana

cla

ad happened-something I hadn't agre

e just af

ets passed without meaning. My though

d the door and slid down agai

wrong. Heav

hap

ked my

calls. Nothing from Jul

tightened

ely recognized the woman looking back. My skin

kin burned. It didn't help. I still felt unclean. Stil

nd cried until exhau

roat felt raw. The memories were still broken blurred edge

ng had

I hadn't c

lled

ans

xted

lease call me w

th

ver her name before I locked my phone. I wasn't rea

on, an ema

Work remotely if

on of th

nowled

plana

mach t

ld be handled. Silence

i

needed air. Movement. Proof that the world ha

rned, my ph

e

ages. I was asleep a

gers h

pe

le

d ag

home? I rea

came imm

my

ouch, pulling my

since that night, I

er had been done to me I