firm, and I was on the couch, scrolling through dental hygiene foru

zzed, it was Jes

ot believe what Bre

wasn' t unusual when her mothe

sked, not looking

reincarnation of someo

y scrollin

y, I' ve never heard of her, and get this, she sa

t his blueprint, completely unaware he w

lost it

she cornered me in my own kitchen, wear

as she keeps her delus

dropped, "she said she needs to see M

ing settled

were loud, a mishmash of thrift store finds she called "vintage couture," and her makeup was

s busy," I said.

tening, she just hums these old

t let her come

ca said, but she did

ernoon, our

ting anyone. Mi

hrough the

as B

de of thin plastic, a floppy hat with a wilting feather,

ed when I opened the door jus

s at work, and h

on smile did

, Lila always had such loyal assistants, but J

er past me into

my voice firm. "And I' m hi

is time around, isn' t it? A temporary arrangement,

y arm, her r

is waiting, the studi

down the hallway, leaving

se washing over me. This wasn't just ec