na'

n't s

prop

across the cracks like slow-moving insects. Every time I closed my eyes, my brain r

. Shame burned hotter than fear: I'd let the enemy in, literall

ustion had settl

ouse. Hair twisted into a bun so tight it pulled

the air felt he

through performance metric

cof

the moment

falling into step beside me.

wn. "Somethin

ed on my face a

id in just before the doors closed

ng, la

ged on me and

't loo

leaned closer. "Graham's be

ticked up

ns. Access hierarchies.

ai

inly. "I'm

hed. Bria

staff hovered near the server room. Graham's glas

and went str

re, buried deep, timestamped wrong by millis

apping acce

bursts. Off-hours. Always routed cleanly enough

ev

nderestimate

e

larms. Just mirrored processes and silent flags that logged everything tw

hed my files ag

d in my perip

ia

ay," he said lightl

ok up. "Jus

e leaned on my desk. Too

de me g

't say th

dn't reach his eyes.

ir. "Brian, if you have

something, nerves, maybe

d. "I'm just look

e walk

ty, Graham

ai

of cologne and stale coffee

ess activity," he said, finger

ob," I repl

ed. It

of his office, my h

d walked bac

uzzed-a sharp vibration agains

wn nu

ll

e I could reply, anot

ou ge

eath

canning desks until his eyes landed on me. He walked over,

ennett?"

in the of

I said

me and left with

heavier th

t instantly. "Oh my God," she

n't a

't mov

ogo, no brand name. Just a sl

ened

e li

ne. Not a singl

y, rebirth, second chances. In my flat they would have felt hopeful. Here

sted betwee

d, then pi

n

written in precis

ope you'

led slightly a

so romantic! Do you h

an stared at the flowers like t

lass office, eyes narrowing

smile. "Loo

e had start

shed it aside, pretending to admire the

black box. But innocence was a lie I'd learned th

and went. I

x me out. Curry.

ecl

rnoon, the

incriminating on the su

n, smiling too brightly. Brian paced near IT.

d. Like a noose being adjus

ded, the flowers we

leaving th

idn

k with rain. I carried the box home like contra

owers on the kitchen cou

n't belo

e buzze

wn Nu

the dim kitchen. My thum

ssage

ou ge

eaving the hotel at dawn, rain in my hair, coat clutched t

ammed again