n he called me leverage. Not wh

ld give h

, I played

g? I showed up before the

at at the s

em all, even when they had n

a new goal n

day, I'd lear

sion. Everything had a syste

do with silence. My q

dinner, I deci

the table, swirling his

nt these days," he s

You said jump

not your

t know my

't confuse compliance with safety, Alina. You're

you're not strong just becaus

and s

on? Hatred? Something worse? I cou

e first time

er. A real smile. Brie

ou're here," he said softly.

in just a

akes you mo

His chair scraped

didn'

ing me alone with the wine, the silenc

one wa

how, I'd