na's

r filthy, broke self aroun

ice cuts throu

elding, like I'm already a problem they've been warned about. My body je

stum

eone

nes openly, angling for a better shot. I catch a glimpse of mys

his voice deliber

shaking his head like I'm a cautionary

. I try to speak, b

ble," he a

houlder, desperate, stupid, hopi

doe

ound her waist .He gives her a soft, lin

smiles sh

weet and

he exit. The glass doors stand

back one

as already

slide shut

ound is

Fi

g about as if the world hadn't stopped .I stand there for a heartbe

er how I get bac

o badly I almost drop my phone twice. I know pe

all pale and fragile, with her chest barely moving up and dow

ab her

's c

whisper.

can't see. "They're going to start the

eels heavy

tly. The same careful expr

" I say quickly, cutting him off.

sk, my hands shake

Be

ecl

ong," I say.

Be

ecl

race. I pull out anot

ecl

ecl

e," I say, my voice crackin

ys, gentle but firm. "We can

my throat, thick

rk types someth

says carefully. "Your

roz

u mean frozen

were transferred earlier t

room

emble as I ch

Ze

e walls feel like they're closing in. I don't even remember crossing t

nswers," I

ks up, then freezes

y. "Mrs. Romano. Your hu

ch drops.

orized the

le," I say. "I did

er toward me. "The

ad eve

ose but wrong. The date

forged,"

sn't meet

shake as I

rs almost

u want?" he s

my voice breaking. "You

e's a

n he

e says. "They're gone,

ay. "That money was mine.

he cuts in. "You should've thought

ghtens. "You

if I were you, I'd stop callin

he other end. A soft s

he phone

's voice r

he says calmly. "We kno

ood tur

rable, lonely life

call

of the bank lobby as people br

alk o

oo bright. The

world

nees b

e, my body fin