, hidden in the smok

it from my

her

sband, loved

hough, felt

hem for weeks, these ne

voice smooth like always. "So I can m

cident" was t

re. He said I

alive, even if my legs d

developer, charismati

the narrative

overy, or what he to

had a

Sarah, who came when

his story about my

ould say, her hands firm on my le

, painfully, I was

ld walk, a little un

didn't

d me de

light, though. It

he left for a

the bookshelf, pus

slid open. Ins

han's.

ew things about

ector wasn't just

s a c

appeared. My living

mach t

watch

ny wer

next hour

om, disguised as

, a tiny lens in t

my old architectural ha

every

r was co

on popped up on the screen I w

ne. Et

ablet on the kitchen cou

s. Or a

sita

I cli

ail chain wi

oung marketi

Dates. Hot

eath

surveillance. I

red light see

t watching me

me while he li

reer as an arch

supposedl

band,

ked into place,

e a distant hope, s

reflection in t

there wasn

s. And she was