a jolt of realization hits

adrenaline-fueled moments, leaving behind an emptiness that n

y, I decided against it. In this bizarre world, who knows w

n of hope for a scrap of normalcy, something, anything, to quell the mo

ng to starve to d

head rotates 180 degrees

lt of shock coursing through me. "Julie, can you turn around

e. "Sorry, I'll be mor

the desk, and to my surprise, it is a treasure trove

beyond such needs, so they are all yours..." Her voice trails off, a

world has draped over us, rekindling a warmth in my chest that I feared l

find rest in

thought of her, devoid of the comfort of food and t

, "That's great, she can't sleep,

wavelength, and he looks at Julie with astonishment, "Yo

onsidered living normally when

can sti

ist, being able to code equa

ine, if M Company's employees could wo

ething someone w

eel like slapping myself. How could I have idolized a company t

a pack of bread at h

t is suddenly 11 PM. The sound of knocking and the dorm superviso

pen the door, but Bai-Wan stops

o 6 AM. You must stay in your dorm and

e are all here and already undressed

turning sharp. "Open up. Don't think I

brought him in openly. "We are not

hink you can defy me? I have the spare keys.

reeze. "This is bad, the supervisor has s

a, why can't we

an't we open the door, but I also can't leave the dorm, or I would have e

thought, Julie say

g louder, each tap a foreboding drumbeat against the stillness of the night.

h despair. "Even if you stop her now, she'll just call security. Yo

rning to me-this time actually turning her entire body t

aching sorrow. And then, with the quietude of a whisper lost

rush to the window, yelling, "Juli

isor approaches, Julie lunges at her, embrac

e stretches, dilates, and for a brief, eternal instant, everything els

s, and then silenc