drian Hale was how quiet the world could

ts calling

cellations disguis

eated time like something o

nded in didn'

as the

aintly of paint and new beginnings. It wasn't luxurious. The furniture was

nce there fe

sn't

as m

case still half-open beside me. I didn't unpack everything. I di

y there staring at the ceiling, waitin

did

ness in

re for not being

ng someone who never n

realization, the sound

y had been tied to a

. H

rs. People had spoken to me politely, distantly, always with a c

as m

l café down the street and ord

a asked, marker ho

sita

I sai

lance, slid the cup across the count

n't have

it

eck the new

y controlled life continuing exactly as it always had. I didn't

me was how litt

sed r

d famil

e idea of b

dn't mis

, like something that had always

ail came, I stared at it for a l

eact

reg

fin

came

it. The qualifications were still there. The skills I'd tucked

re just

t paid modestly and demanded long hours, but for t

te because

f because I ha

eing me as quiet and star

depen

val

nvention-but intentionally. Clothes chosen for comfor

t my

a l

feel the d

I ran into someon

me before I r

. Ha

coffee halfwa

a ghost. Or worse-something that did

. here?"

I said

lo

mall and po

urface. I knew that look. I'd worn it once, too-whe

drian?"

't know,"

irst time I sa

t fel

rs passed

y. Ste

s or grand announcements. I learned what peace

ned to the city, I was no l

rning as s

rrived the morni

ck en

ld s

mpany crest embo

rity

name printed nea

quests the pleasur

ntion

that h

ding the invitation

l didn'

was a