stopped

him like a physical blow. He stood frozen, hunched over, his heart hammering against his ri

the window through the gap in the chairs. She watched the li

napkins and stood back up, her

d began dabbing at the spilled coffee

she said. Her voice was completely flat, o

pale cheeks. There was no blush. But de

and his mind was dragged back to eight m

in Los Angeles. They were scree

ew sleeping bodies. The screen flash

, wearing a mask and a hat. He felt like

urned with shame. He stood up so fast he kicked

aned against a brick wall covered in graffiti. He rippe

fist. He slammed it

d dripped down his fingers, b

rm back to punc

ut from the shadows. It gr

A woman in a trench coat was stan

fan. She pulled a sterile wet wipe f

disconnect in your third act," she

nimal. He yelled at her, asking wh

ected his performance. She listed three fa

mera angles and completely missed the chara

nt shiver ran down his spine. He f

ss or tearing him down. He had never h

led a black business card from her coat

ate emotional stabilization cons

e let out a bitter laugh. "Ar

ry, hiring me is the cheapest inves

r. She turned and walked awa

o the present. He looked at Elea

he alley had just panicked and spilled the coffee because her strict professio

wrist. He didn't care that she looked

t now," he growled. "I'm going to