na
amic view of the city. I refused to look at it. Instead, I kept my eye
ng toward an appointment with
epped in, with Sofia clinging to his side like a decorative accessory. She was giggling,
aring of teeth disgui
e chirped.
," I
y mere existence was an interruption to his schedule. He reached out, his fing
is messy,"
ed back, pitching her voice per
but his tone was playful.
or lunch,"
nvitation. It
said. "I ha
ed into slits.
nal bu
s," he said, his voice leaving n
erhead lights flickered and died, plunging us into a sudden, hea
. "I can't breathe. It
apels. "It's okay," h
o her back and whispering reassurances I couldn'
n in my chest. I was the one with the diagnosis. I was the one whos
ht. The harsh beam hit them,
glared
he hissed. "You
is out, Dan
ndition," he snappe
ag
who had nearly
g open a few inches. We were level with the lobby floor
ed the doors apart with his bare hands
"Get to the clini
ke-terrified eyes. Dante followed her immedia
gan to slide
r a hand that was waiting to be taken.r. The rubber seal pinched my ankle, grinding against the
out into
he rushed Sofia toward the exit. He
racked-a spiderweb of glass from where I ha
walked out the side exit and too
elled sharply of bl
fice at 5 PM. Dante w
pastries. "Cannoli,"
ling the ravaged remain
them," he said. "I th
he box on m
int the quarterly
't," I
hy
ing someth
A single sheet of paper slid into the t
this?"
gnation,
of disbelief. "You can't resign,
voice steady. "I resign from being your secretary
opped it into the trash can next
the empty air, the words tastin
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