" I finally said to Brittany,

actions had burne

ed to hum

" Brittany hissed back, her eyes

tching with a detached ai

t scold

oked

don't make

e was a

rebukes, Brittany' s cruelties, the

lf, piece by piece, hoping f

e background of my thoughts – their business, their standing, sub

pened yet, was a future I suddenly saw with c

nge calm settling over

ide cabin in Maine, remote, unde

o to th

ened slightly, surpr

y narrow

dramatic

ol the narrative, to spin my retreat as

e said, his voice regaining its smoo

I could see it

ght I'd

I'd come cr

now I was a

r Hayes, the Senator

t a new feeling was stirring: resignation

reconciliation, no apology

smirked,

vise on my arm, a public show o