arations for Seraphina – that

nce, and I was th

d. He' d call

ice f

h

him, the him I

f my devotion, my q

a pretty face, ev

hidden self – was

o see him.

xEcho, bu

get some kind of closure, ev

text, my fi

art studio. Can we meet? I need to disc

excuse, but it

curt "Fine. Tomorrow, 2 PM.

about why Ava Chen, the q

st wanted to g

I spent an hou

But I wanted t

, I told my

s, did my makeup carefully,

e I usu

of my apartment,

tion worke

this when I didn'

on made my

arly, the San Francisc

afe, the ou

of anxiety tight

pharmacy, bought a pair of chea

ise b

, a little more like

ame an

:

:

m. "Liam? A

rep

ng a cold coffee,

glasses couldn't hide th

e, a group of guys catcalle

iful! Wann

lingered,

This felt differen

walking towards me,

d and sharp. My o

ran, bumping straigh

re, miss.

r. Uniformed, c

ner called from the patrol

dy, seemed a bit spooked," he s

-forties, with a tired

ys bother

, unable

Let me walk you to

anaged. "Ju

y apartment building, a

Stay safe, okay?" he

nk you, my hand

and glasses, leaning against th

d. An Aegis Pri

" Cole was l

& Seraphina: Chill

laying.

y he' d st

was a torrent of

S O

ina is

ina herself, typed into the

ying to message you? Said something about a

ocence, but the

. Humi

hat, then at his priv

, a dismis

ance artist. Probably wants mo

impo

harder than any

t to thousan

real me, was n