never pierc

the pressure of his own hand, and he inhaled sharply through his

makeshift pressure bandage, wrapping it tightly around his torso. It

ehead with the back of her hand. The smell o

ss," she said, her voice low. "You ne

pushed himself up, his movements

en in his weakened state. He fumbled with his left cuf

and. His palm was calloused, hot. He

ugh, scraping against the air like sand

her hand away. "I d

the stall door open. He moved with a terrifying determination, disapp

was heavy, solid platinum. Engraved on the face was a crest she didn'

from her hands, scrubbing until her skin was raw.

felt differen

. She gave the taxi driver the

n't come home. He was likely still at the hotel, or perh

feel angry.

ently. Her art history textbooks. Her encrypted hard drive. Her comfortable s

e diamond tennis bracelet. She left t

nate mirror, she took a tube of red lipstick

on the console table next

to help her with the bags. "M

ly," she corrected him, her

yn. The skyline of Manhattan receded, a glitt

toop of the brownstone, wrap

it?" Whitney ask

d

s. Whitney's apartment was small, cluttered, and sm

ofa. Whitney poured two

aid, raising her glass.

ine. "I feel like I

platinum cufflink. She held it up to the ligh

"That looks expensive. Did

id. "A payment

with old batteries and takeout menus. She didn't

dows rolled slowly past the building. It paused for a momen