t and cheap tea bags. He held a chipped ceramic mug filled with hot water and a

ngs groaned. Rory held a crumpled copy of a high-soc

rs back. He started speaking, stretching his vowels. He was trying to mimic th

felt heavy. He remembered doing the exact same thing. He remembered spending hours in front of

ce. "I can't even afford a tailored suit. Are you saving up, Emmett? W

of his tea. The hot w

ett said. His voice was com

You can't let your family drag you down. You have to cut them off

st Rory. He stared at the cracked

he memory hit him like a

ap tin of homemade cookies. He slapped her hand away. The tin hit the floor. The cookies shattered. He tu

ifted. The li

t hood of a black police transport carriage. Rough hands yanked his a

rson stood under a large black umbrella. She wore a pristine white dress. She looked at him.

over to Emmett. He shoved a folded piece of paper into Emmett's wet po

e heavy wooden gavel slammed down. The sound e

izing death

met

antically in fr

ame back into focus. He was brea

so hard his knuckles were bone-white. The joints popped with a sic

fingers to uncurl. He relaxed his shoulders. He pushed

ng disgusted. "You look like a ghost. Go to the i

e corners of his mouth up. He create

said softly. "Just

ked in. She carried a stack of expensive

d loudly. She crossed her arms. "But who cares. Did you hear

pped. His blood tu

leaned forwar

. "If she gets married, she'll need a

lara tasted like ash in his mouth. Hi

Rory said. He smiled dreamily. "She's so sweet.

ak. He walked to the small metal sink in the corner. He

out, hitting the

the wet metal edges. Under the noise o

Emmett whispered. His voi

y?" Rory called

ps off his hands. He turned around. The venom

the afternoon schedule," Emmett s

uette guide down his pants. He

n the doorway and looked back. Rory and Moira were still t

im. He felt nothing for them. He had cut the cord. His ambition to be a