win bed screamed in protest

t flashed red light through the thin curtains, painting the ce

ack, staring at the ceil

ated in toxic dyes. His body, accustomed to organic

kin turned raw and red. The physical discomfort was maddening. He wanted to ca

ng from under the bedroom door. He heard the

side of the bed. He walked to

le bags under her eyes. She was staring at a spreadsheet filled with loan applications,

ch on his arms vanished, replaced by a c

les. She turned her head and s

her cheeks flushing dark red.

yes immediately dropped to his arms. She saw

air. She grabbed his wrist, pulli

lora said, her voice laced with guilt. "It's the l

n to the bathroom, digging

r he was just allergic to being poor. The

She squeezed a cold dollop onto her fingers and began r

through Josiah's entire body. He looked down at the top of her head

softly, keeping her eyes on his arm. "The scary part isn

ah like a physical

titors from a glass tower. He had never known

rapped his hand over her

aid. His voice wa

. She pulled her hand back quickly,

d at the cheap shirt draped over the cha

left for the hospital

pened his eyes. He reached under the mattress an

aled

d lethal, a dangerous edge bleeding into his words. "Find the quality control reports for their facto

rying to hide a laugh at the absurdity of the reques

pped, his jaw clenching

ora had left on the table. It was her handwritten budget

iting a financial restructuring plan in the margins. He wrote three lin

ed the paper so hard it tore a

urge of frustration boiling in his b

ere were two eggs, half a loaf

e hand. He whisked them with precise, calculated movement

ces of French toast sat on the chipped ceramic plates. T

lates, waiting for