didn't

ws in the massive, silent bedroom. She lay perfectly still on her

never c

ndows, she rose. The emptiness of the room, of the bed, was no longer a s

akeup. She put on a tailored blazer and trousers, armor for the day ahead. She looke

g the dark, expensive beans Julian preferred. She tamped the grounds, locked the portafilter into place, and pre

filled the air. She watched the dark

n, she

the single cup of coffee, steam rising from its

t, rose in her throat. The sheer,

the entire contents down the drain. The hot liquid hissed as it disappea

he sink. For herself,

She noticed things. The way the light hit the glass towers of Midtown. The faces of

department got in with her. They didn't recognize her

ulian Carlyle-Spencer and Britany Ho

n you imagine the humiliation?" The first woman

h disdain. "She was a nobody before she married him. Just another girl tryin

face impassive. The two women looked up, saw who she was, and their fa

antic, whispered apologies fading behind her. Their words didn't hurt. They were ju

dation's offices. Megan was young, earnest, and one of the few

ou okay? Your f

. The lie slipped out, smooth a

t projections for a children's literacy program she was managing. This job, this entire role, had been

a few clicks, she opened a hidden,

f dense equations on robotic kinematics. A ghost of a smile touched h

Julian's rebellious younger sister and

I saw the news.

s moved quickly

we meet? There's someth

"Of course! Anytime! I can

d, a strange calm settling over he

igated to her drafts folder, and clicked on a file she ha

PARATION

Spencer. Three years of her life, reduced to a few pages of legal jargon.

icked

ffice was the loudest sound she had ever h

l warm from the machine. Her fingers, usually

ice was on t

ment. She was still, for a

r blazer, and walked toward the elevat

as t