the phone lik

dn't be. It

hoed in her head.

at mocking cal

er asked, watching her care

like a marionette cut from its strings. She didn't stop until she was inside her room with

Dan find

she'd be

ain-beige walls, a single dresser, a worn blue comforter-but now it fe

know wher

had given her. She didn't want to use i

umber stored

't dial.

ex had looked at her when he thought she wasn't watching. The weight o

the way he hadn

when he closed the sh

ke it was a transaction. She felt so lonely especially because the same man

*

cigarette between his lips, eyes narrow

oved for tw

the right thing. Got her

just left something behin

be careful. Should've sai

ad, h

. Not since the streets swallowed his soul whole. But Millie-quiet, brok

crushed the cigarette under

usiness

didn't wait

*

ars and stood. She

etaker's office, her voice shak

blocked. But he asked for you by name

a nod. "I just

efore. She pulled her hoodie tight a

watch

now where

she pulled the burner

t for a while t

g just

lli

was shar

it. He had a way of pronouncing her name as if th

d the shelter," she wh

pa

you s

ey, sweetheart.' I'd kn

se. Then, "

was

ne wen

taring at the phone

ld've fe

ide her told her that

as c

ived, he'd be wal

*

r, a brown haired man lowered his

ught her guard dog," he muttered

how good he