Reborn at a cost

na'

buzzed overhead li

ies still open on the counter. Their scent had turned r

t dawn, rain in my hair, coat clutched li

had foll

d across the stre

grainy but

bled over the

the same unknown number

window, curtains drawn, but the gap between them showed only wet

back of my

like it might bite. B

in

d after the texts. Sam

bly think of is Brian. No, it

be.....

doub

o? Why not just say "It's me?" W

wanted m

newI was al

te petals perfect, stems clipped at sharp

to laugh.

ped the flowers in. Water hissed as I turned the tap full

luttered t

Hope you

it under

e buzze

the edge of the cou

age. Sam

u. Just wanted you to know

Three dot

h

k? In perso

he words unti

st

even when they weren't gentle, the way he'd listened-

eved i

t know what

her

of your street. 8 a.m. I'll wait. If you

eath

where

how. LinkedIn. It could be LinkedIn. A qu

gh

still lingered,

the phone. F

ed on

hy

e

ots appeare

e night was

sed m

hundered i

bout the poison, the prison, the framed files,

wanted

aybe

ned m

lock ticked p

ours to

ing part of whatev

who'd made me feel alive again was actually the safe

gle white petal clung to the

vered over

came through bef

gle p

t

p. Steam risin

capt

window. I'l

d short,

he fin

se, L

ext felt like a

Dang

he screen unt

ch

I might g

did

d once more-not

l notif

aise Corps address

lation Alert – Imme

ach plu

ened

dy was

missions suspended pending audit. Report to Graham McFadden's office at 09:

reenshot of my

ng the ones I'd f

e new

in at 0

my ho

ed my work lap

as inside

ht

etal finally slipp

l's last message.

nvita

tr

ose which one wo

d up th

s stea

d thre

be t

e

kitchen light.Darkne

sound of m

that tomorrow morning,

ai