me in fr

ms-inter

as a rhythm to it: the distant hum of systems resetting, a soft mechanical click

ntio

I should have. Every sound felt like it carried meaning, l

realized the qu

comp

that follows somet

and checked the cloc

4 a

member fall

awake unt

a continuation of the sam

fast wit

n

ched

ad left early for meetings. She offered options-s

rary?" I

smoothly. "The e

cou

e it a

f the house. Tall shelves. Leather-bound books. Warm lighting. It smelle

g titles that spoke of history, economics, strat

ooks were

ow and sat, pretending to rea

ing to the sa

y

the

e west

And he hadn't offered. The silence betwee

ernoon, Margare

for dinner," she said. "He

ues

d. "Of

t differen

r. Just..

d tired, though the kind of tired that still carried authority. His movement

s

aff wi

space between us, t

late," he s

up. "Wa

ed. "The house

opped slightl

" He said it like it was

d. "I coul

moment, then nodde

rance and more like a concl

ietly for

"there's a board dinn

meaning to. "So

nterrupted calmly. "But

ung more tha

I said before I c

nd tonight you're eating din

down. "Do you

fted slowly

led between us like a th

rt of this. The house. The schedule. T

ot true,"

ait

he continued. "You're jus

nction fe

asked quietly, "if you wa

respond im

s voice was lower. "Dista

t from

m da

ord e

hom? From me?

ghtly. "Someone w

seemed to

change, but something

your conce

t's t

le

de

onfir

sil

me-not fear, exactly, but so

slowly, "it's not just a

e chair scraping soft

he said. Not an

ard the door,

tand to be safe," he added. "And things yo

orta

ha

eq

orta

room without

found myself walki

dering-

hter. Like systems were active at a higher level.

corridor that led t

nes. I hadn't even reac

omething

ounded from so

fr

came calmly from behin

urn

t away, hands folded,

ust-" I

finished gently.

d briefly towar

away from certain areas," she

safety?"

ted. Just

one's," sh

ck toward my wi

h a tight chest and too m

cause I needed to, but because i

the bed, staring at

full o

e built o

verything except the o

ut

in, a final thought pressed itself forwar

nt to question

ng about it feel