words tumbling out be

of it rea

ce tre

we spent together? When

ded t

destroyed what lit

ything? Or was I

jaw ti

, towards the

ht I saw a flicker of

? Re

t my desperat

rned and w

ut a

e with my unanswered questions

was an answe

definit

flashe

I spent c

an

financial analyst who se

tory student then, used

a cha

him rele

coffee shop

o his fav

cial markets just to have so

s polite, al

ersistent.

tion would eventu

e night at t

pier after a charity au

car screeched to

t, guns glinting

ren't a

re afte

kage, Cole!" one

ved me be

, Ma

was

lunged at Eth

ct too

e, stepping into th

ain shot

cre

sound I'd neve

peed and brutalit

oth men were

ack to me, h

g from a deep ga

d starte

t, what were

is voice rough with a strang

s expensive shirt, tying

as surprisi

uttered, but his

dn't yo

m, dizzy from pai

hope bloomed

orried a

car

even a little bit, Ethan?"

, but all I could fo

sion was u

, the sound of lapping water and

hed, a deep,

ssible, Maya

l, almost imperceptible s

e said, his vo

ter judgment, I

ed, "Let's try. Let

art s

in my arm

sai

m had c

d, his gaze sudden

this, if you ever re

ued, "I'll grant you one

nge pr

eliriously happ

a giddy,

ou, Ethan

dea how wr

is charming man

uld come back to haunt me i

weapon he would