THEY NEVER WANTED HER - NOW SHE'S UNAVOIDABLE

move in a s

elf. It slipped like unstable ground, al

streets too. What remained, instead, were sensations. The cold of mornings that came too early. The smell of bags that wer

schools se

eone. A question asked in a low voice. She watched the other childre

as always th

no one said anything. An absence that, b

e sto

ery back. Near the wall. Where you can see without being

time to learn her n

suite

tten had it

was questioned, she lifted her eyes calmly. When someone watched

worke

mu

dy erased her features. Sometimes she smelled of cleaning products, sometimes of cold k

ed long. Neither

or the neighborhood. It was something else. Boxes left half unpacked. Curtains kept open even at n

nna often s

list

. She instinctively distinguished ordinary sounds from those that signaled danger. Sh

e came home with a

t Anna noticed the way she hid it. The way she ke

okay?" An

d up. Smiled

Just t

derstood long ago that some questions made

tle, Anna dev

the sam

eps. She memorized bus schedules, even when they didn't take them.

obse

ved men m

reached their eyes. She understood very early that some gazes to

e avo

. Quieter. She learned t

ered her head. He moved closer. She felt that dull, immediate alarm

ng, she asked t

ithout asking a

nna understood so

depend on her abi

words. She carved it

ithout anchors. Without roots

an the others. Not

e strong

room rented by the week. A single space. A windo

wn her bag, and sudden

sn't c

as sh

e approaching. She placed her hand on

is anymore," C

away. She squeezed her

n," she sa

ooked at her as if she were

n't have to

shr

y it a

she kept at the bottom of her bag. She did

ees. Thought for a mome

raw att

re than y

re you're

it. Closed

k would become a weapon. For now, it

, Claire spo

ai

one had changed. Les

have a choice a

looke

I," she re

each other fo

Anna understood that

e uncertain, perhaps more d

t this door left ajar w

that holding on would s