afternoon, Maya bu

until the numbers blurred. It was easier to focus on formulas than the flickering memory

n't be

't have b

ened to a podcast she barely registered. When she got home, she kicked off her shoes, microwaved her

ords woul

tucked inside her coat pocket. To the symbol burned into her mi

ook aside and t

o drown ou

self she was just tired. Overworked. Maybe her brain had conjured it all as

naps. Vivid dreams. Fantasy

rnative - that something inside her had cracked open, and the worl

was. Nodded politely during meetings. Took

still dreamed of f

le of wom

pered like a s

ast that block, she refused

better

. No

etta

re reason couldn't

sn't wait

as pouring her morning coffee in the cram

arton slipped from her fingers. Time seemed

r, the creamer stopped mid-fall - h

oze, ey

rton dropped softly onto

?" she whispered,

the corner, glancin

sked, rubbing sl

a laugh. "Nothing. Must be

sed, but the u

ted gently back onto her desk, the faint scent of jasmine when no one was

all coincidence. Stress.

ol from the note she'd found, a warmth blossomed be

out to touch the pendant she never too

it pulsed softly

osed he

was

he was re