a's

a giant silver banner that says GOODBYE OLD YEAR! but the "D" in GOODBYE keeps falling o

n, someone is stringing up lights, blowing up balloons, or arguing about which play

beside mine with a bounce of glossy hair and cinna

s like she's floating, light and confident,

frownin

arm. "This party is supposed to be fun, Ly

gue

You're going to relax, eat, drink, socialize, an

ing plans

lit second... so fast I alm

much for me not

y, "you deserve a night

r for a moment, searching for... something. Maybe reassurance. Maybe the

begin, "c

ts through the h

der

e on th

se... A

bicles... black suit, sleeves rolled up

land on me, my whole body reacts lik

ou for a mom

brows at me. "Ooh, yo

hut up,"

's a medical

e moves aside to let me pass into his office. I

somethin

door. "The p

sk. I sent the d

els like he's studying me, like he notices the tiny tremo

ired," he s

m f

re ly

es. "You're ima

aw clenching faintly. "Just... pace your

Mr. Sterling.

s deba

t smile

o the strange comfort of his conc

epeat and walk out

ognizable: dim lights, shimmering decorations, a h

, and dancing near their cubicles lik

n, holding two gla

you," s

not s

it," she insists.

n are you

babysit." She bumps her glass ag

lurches in

words feel like a warm hug. But

lightly a

ve fun tonight, Lyla. Don't overthink everything.

is soft.

, violently, what she would look

ly and effortlessly. I ignore t

c gets stronger, and I drift through the room wi

exts m

y's fun. Don't

and no "m

chedule

e and pulls me toward the break

tter. "Corpor

g grumpy,"

hest fee

ut I don't know what exactly...

table piled with wrapped gifts

as my eyes land

, one hand in his pocket, looking li

g. He's just watching the room... w

e

away

I'm avo

I need to

ssing a gift bag into m

are

rapped in matte black p

rops as I gl

ugs. "O

s as I lift th

is... l

e. It's an expensive, de

on slams into me so ha

hell..."

e tissue paper deeper, as if

y. "Ooh, someone th

n't... thi

Secret Santa

know," I

omeon

very s

e behind me. Then suddenly, a hand grabs

iny hairs on my arms rise. Then a w

ce murmurs, "put on

to my ribs. I spi

s h

xan

ws in his eyes, close enough that I can smell t

der..." My v

ands. He smirks, slow and dangerous, li

," he say

anic, humiliation, anger, and fear,

. This isn't fu

n't jo

t's

the fin

ast him, heart pounding so

need..." I can't

fl

ind me, heavy, contr

r is fol

the hall, practically sprinting. I re

... there's silence as I

around beca

l break open

ed, nothing like the confid

ys. "Just..

ze my e

come closer. And somehow, that

irs, legs shaking,

led echo of the party continuing... an