nnovators Fellowship. My heart hammered against my ribs all morning. This fello

election committee, even. He promised he' d recuse himself from voting on my appli

I clicked it open, my b

wasn't

ssica Evans. A recent graduate. Mark' s

led out, my v

tudy, a strange, tig

't get it

t. No softnes

ot meeting my eyes. "Her proposal on ur

d, then a cold w

unity housing project was groundb

d at me, his exp

voice. The committee felt she had more i

lap. Just last week, he

owship. "This is brilliant, Sarah," he' d said, his arm around my waist. "That community-

words now. A bitter taste

I blinked them back. Despai

understan

. There will be other opportun

nk. I picked up my phone, my fingers shaking as I d

" Professor Davies'

tumbling out, laced w

s talented, yes, but your work on community architecture h

was a small anc

small community garden project in Oakhaven, a town upstate. It' s not a pre

hope. "Yes, Prof

e recently. I drove past his office building on a hunch. His car wa

g close, laughing. His hand was on her arm, a casual, in

sickening dread that h

e home, the anger a c

?" I asked, m

He didn't look at me, alre

k. With Jessica

aw a flicker of something – guilt? Th

he fellowship details

t looked a lo

small and irrational. "You're just upset you didn't get the fellowship, and you'

s. Three for my fellowship application fees and potential travel for interviews,

account... where

etworking events. And Jessica needed some help with her material cost

y and her... assets? The injustice o

s on the phone with her

e revised blueprints for you. No troubl

shop and get Jessica' s revised p

You want me to run

, as if that settled it. Like I

apparently come by the apartment. He handed her a mug, his fingers brus

sadness. He was giving her ever

looked at a small, wilting plant on the

h false concern, "this poor plant. It looks

you were supposed to be looking after t

rday," I said, shoc

loud enough for me to hear, a small,

ust try to be more careful,

. Instantly.

ke them both lunch. He

dwiches. Jessica and I h

bness spreading through me. I was trapped

ally. My compliance felt forced, a denial of my

How did my life, my marr

eath the despair, a flicker of something else ignite

t let the

m before Mark, before his ambition started to overshadow everything. D

f it familiar and comforting. I

llowship? You should be focusing on suppor

k up. "I'm j

He couldn't see the plans forming in

, his demand

he site visit in Oakhaven. My car

Professor Davi

" I

did yo

d no,