air cleaner. I walked the halls not as a woman heading towards a life of serv

cart when a sickly sweet voice

here yo

ation, a look of pity plastered on her face. In my past life, I woul

ake sympathy. "He came to see me last night, he was just devastated. A

ers, trying to see if I was a we

it neatly in its slot before

don't think

red for a fract

do you

ice even and calm. "After all, you and Mark are childhood

ng the gauze, my m

is mother struggles with daily chores. You know his sister

looked dire

out his well-being, why aren't you the one stepping up? Why ar

s used to being the one pulling the strings fro

ust friends,"

f Mark's affection without any of the actual work. You want him available for secre

ger. She had no comeback. I had laid her sel

u're talking about," sh

coolly. "Mark needs a caretaker. You want a lover. I am n

etely flustered, her plan to gauge my misery having backfired spectacularly. Fi

a minor victory, but it was a start. It felt good to fi

sound. The encounter hadn't distracted me; it had fueled me. It was a reminder

he quiet hum of the air conditioning and the scent of old paper and disinfectant was comfo

ere my skills would be valued, where I could bui

ized, every procedure I reviewed, was a brick in the foundation of my new future. Sc