na

amic view of the city. I refused to look at it. Instead, I kept my eye

ng toward an appointment with

epped in, with Sofia clinging to his side like a decorative accessory. She was giggling,

aring of teeth disgui

e chirped.

," I

y mere existence was an interruption to his schedule. He reached out, his fing

is messy,"

ed back, pitching her voice per

but his tone was playful.

or lunch,"

nvitation. It

said. "I ha

ed into slits.

nal bu

s," he said, his voice leaving n

erhead lights flickered and died, plunging us into a sudden, hea

. "I can't breathe. It

apels. "It's okay," h

o her back and whispering reassurances I couldn'

n in my chest. I was the one with the diagnosis. I was the one whos

ht. The harsh beam hit them,

glared

he hissed. "You

is out, Dan

ndition," he snappe

ag

who had nearly

g open a few inches. We were level with the lobby floor

ed the doors apart with his bare hands

"Get to the clini

ke-terrified eyes. Dante followed her immedia

gan to slide

r a hand that was waiting to be taken.

r. The rubber seal pinched my ankle, grinding against the

out into

he rushed Sofia toward the exit. He

racked-a spiderweb of glass from where I ha

walked out the side exit and too

elled sharply of bl

fice at 5 PM. Dante w

pastries. "Cannoli,"

ling the ravaged remain

them," he said. "I th

he box on m

int the quarterly

't," I

hy

ing someth

A single sheet of paper slid into the t

this?"

gnation,

of disbelief. "You can't resign,

voice steady. "I resign from being your secretary

opped it into the trash can next

the empty air, the words tastin