Vanc

ooden dining table. The table rocked on its uneven legs, ma

forward, perfectly mimicking the posture of a man carrying the weight of the world. I had seen him do

h rack. I opened the box, pulled out a slice of

my wrist. He pulled my hand toward his face and press

nd scrub my skin with boiling water was overwhelming. I forc

fering me a sad, self-deprecating smile. "They rejected me a

wless. If I did not know about the thirty

my voice soft and steady. "I believe in your talent.

e picked up the slice of

jaw stiffened as he chewed. It was a micro-expression of pure, instinctual disgust. His palate, us

e and gently pulled the p

should not eat cold grease. It will make you s

mask of gratitude. He leaned back against the rickety w

n. I turned the sink faucet on full blast. The loud rushing of the wate

es fixed on the dark glass of the microwave door. It acted

. His spine straightened. The defeated slump vanished. He reache

utdated Android he carried around me. This phone caught no glare from th

bottom center of the screen. A tiny green indicator light flashed, and the phone u

The steam rose, fogging up the glass, but I had already memoriz

t of the kitchen holding a ste

at the table, holding his cracked Android, slowly swiping c

, he let out a fake yawn. "I

t the door. A minute later, the loud spra

t. I slipped my hand into the inner pocket. My fingers br

ot pull

ol. I knew that high-end corporate devices often had proximity locks. If the phone moved too

t the cheap toothpaste and pulled out a roll of breathable medical tape and a small con

aist, his dark hair dripping wet onto his shoulders. He walked to o

main lamp, leaving only a dim, yell

ing, listening to the rhythm of his breathing. I waited until the shallow

'll make sure you have