for a while, but silenc

-

ms beneath the skin-quiet, pers

idn't speak about it, not aloud. But it sat in every glance, every breath sha

utrun thoughts that seemed to chase me with their own kind of stamina. But guilt is fast.

as a ghost i

re forced. But my attention drifted, and it didn'

Monday strategy session where

uickly. "Didn'

press. I think people can sense when y

avoiding

hat required effort. I shifted meeting times. Dod

dn't

had already

the breakroom, pouring coffee I

shrank im

ija

lli

ul. "We can't keep prete

ffee. "We can't afford t

closer. "I

sed yo

t do we

face her. "W

d hurt. "

id you

nswer. She d

between us

to find a bottle of w

ust the bottle, hea

it wa

have poured a glass. Shouldn't have dr

I

ng thing feels like the o

lanning a we

or team members at a private lodge just outs

isted

e said, as if that was a plus.

Or maybe it w

way, I

ve raised more questions

ge was

ing a private lake, and no cell reception. Daniel sp

. Execs. Team leads. P

were a

r cruelty-mine w

lls we

ks and an intense fireside discussion a

oul

ere was a soft k

her. Just lay there, holding my breath

he knock came aga

it st

ht she

, she was sitting on the floor in the hallway, k

ere else to go,"

ped h

a word as she

dn't

dn't

othed, like two fugitives from the truth, shar

ng, she was go

one n

I th

ssion on leadership alignment, Danie

d to brainstorm

trembled sligh

early," I

ook up. "You

was

her lip.

pa

egret it,"

ould

didn't

nd round of drinks, Daniel

mmered in th

ar. "You've been g

e earn

said. "I

been loyal. I trust you with my bu

ily" made my

married?" he

ok my

right, it's the best pa

thing I ever did. That woman sees thr

ded s

er thought anyone was try

led off. But the

e not that guy. You're solid. The

lowed was longer tha

e not

ile th

all r

odd

," he

g in his ton

k to the cit

at on opposite

el d

he looked at u

okay ba

smiled

hoed

oking, just a

egun to suspe

ed its normal rhythm. But it felt li

ght me zoni

nted," she said,

m f

nd I'm B

illian sent me

o get caught.

I disagreed. But because I

el left for a con

e ni

e was gone,

ll

. Just b

what sh

we

single lamp lit the living room. Jazz p

ndow, barefoot, gla

u wouldn't co

uldn't

"Then why ar

ked t

adness, her strength, her fire. Because I didn't reco

kis

ike b

low. Inevitable. Li

't spea

, tangled in shee

der, the soft scar near her col

a line," I

et's stop pretendin

a way of redraw

e lived in the o

er apartment building, I saw Daniel's

as e

be he

d been ther

chi

it