moved before his

ng Debra's shoulders. His grip tightened until she wince

roat, ragged and wrong. "Call her right

tumbled back, rubbing her shoulder. Her eyes were d

d the tr

man walking her dog crossed to the other side of the street. Anderson didn't see her. H

out as a bark. "Car accid

a point somewhere near his shoes. H

ici

Anderson swayed. His palm found the brick wall beside the e

ic

me gallery opening, surrounded by people in clothes that cost more than his rent. She'd l

g red. She'd look

even as he spoke them. "Elianna wouldn

rom where it had fallen. Dust smudged one corner. She held i

inched like

voice had gone mechanical, reci

permission. The weight of it felt wrong. Too hea

's in

flicked away. "And guardi

ad snapped up

s drew together, confusion replacing h

een

counters at family events he couldn't avoid. Fifteen years of Elianna cut

d old enough to drive, to

had known

. Because he'd walked away from that funeral fifteen years ago and never looke

he'd beli

e street, toward a black sedan idling at the corner. "My obligatio

ai

beats. The car door opened before she reached it, a driv

ffic. Exhaust fumes washe

ing the taillights disappear. The morning cold finally

, unshaven, clutching a brown paper envelope like a life

He pushed through, into the lobby's arti

d wall. His reflection multiplied, infinite pale men in wrinkled coats, all h

gs gav

e envelope crinkled against his thigh. He pressed his face into his hands, and the

r chimed. T

tears across his skin. He stood, straightened his coat,

metal slid home. He pushed into his apartment, kicked

on his coffee tab

eathing hard, waiting for