HIS SURROGATE

one who'd welcomed her that first day. The echo of their footsteps was the only sound in t

mind felt stretched thin, like something inside her had been

ad taken place. The heavy door was shut aga

olished floors. The same too-clean air. The same s

n the latch, and turned to Emily with a face that betrayed nothing-no warmth

e on your own," she said, quiet but firm. "You

linked.

n unmarked black car will be waiting. Yo

or the first time, her to

e offer is gone. Forever.

ed, slow a

oman added. "Everythi

y looked past her, to the massive front door, and

st breath of freedom she'd be allowed. The last

n opened

ir swept in

, wind brushing against bare branches, the hum of neon buzz

pped ou

r with a muted thud, li

of which direction to turn. The night pressed in around

ng to someone else.

had her name. Her b

he darkness, one la

e city settled into night. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. A siren wailed a

but from the heaviness in her chest that had been building all evening. A part of her still hoped it wouldn't co

o one

d come was quiet.

need to che

d into her denim jacket, her arms wrapped tightly around

them spoke

h, voice barely audible.

ismatched furniture, but Lena had spent enough nights on that threadbare couch to k

beside her but leaving an

six," Emily

aw tightening. "I thought y

o too," Emil

floor like maybe it held answers. Lena's hand

rry," s

r w

it. For letting it fe

ng. You told me the truth. It was an option. The only on

voice cracked. "B

ned her head away, eyes stingin

na said softly. "Th

dge filled the space between them. Outside, w

if you just ran? Disappeared t

r with what? I have eighty dollars and a

ith you,"

by the sudden emotion

d scrub toilets with you, hustle whatever we had t

hand. She held it tight, like she was ancho

a way. Sometimes the door they leave open isn't really a door. It's a tunnel. And you h

She wiped at them roughly.

aid. "I'm jus

moment, neither of them moved. Just breathing. Just existing

he smiled - a tired, cracked litt

yth

. You're better than this place. Smarter. Kinder.

bled. "Then you better come back. Or I

y laugh that spilled out and fil

it wa

ily hard, longer than eit

ed Emily's face in her hands. "You matt

ed, unable

t side the mans hot a

ith you Emily ? '' Le