Seba
me lukewarm. My hand twitched, as if maybe I would grab it
ed tentatively, "we all
e w
on," the older rep went on, voice d
oked me.
ising his eyes from his screen. I sank back in t
rtably. "They're off
ogram," the ol
. "I'm not
.. a wellness retreat. Therapy and isolation. We place you with a
ugh. "Sounds like ex
ation's running amok and sponsors are dropping off. Your tem
t need
olded his arms. "It's not what you want, believe me. It's a liability. If you ever hope to co
shipping me off t
down the table toward
ble checking that I'd spelled it rig
"It's small, quiet and off season training with
There was th
what? Them? The
ble. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell them I was fine, t
t. I envisioned my hands transforming a
e page. "Remote house. Mountain air
looked directly at him. "
Mark spoke softly, "They'll cancel yo
en, all the blood and broken bones, all the damn hours on th
tered a little. The paper trembled in
l, I was frightened. And if I was honest, which
on the table an
l do
haled.
" I said, my voice l
e dis
...
too silent. First class, but I hardly took note of the seat. My mind wasn't there. It wa
with the signs of early dusk. I tried to shut my eyes, just for a s
nning. B
sed beneath my skin. My lungs scalded, my legs ran faster than they ought. Trees whi
ddenly, there was a sound. A rumbling, guttural growl. Not quite h
rept up my spine, crawled across my ribs, until I was
and saw a reflec
ng like mine. It was gold, b
ly jumpe
nails had made bloody crescents in my palms. The flight attendant caug
hands against my jeans and tried to breathe. This was occurring too often.
erived pleasure from it. As if some switch within me longe
against the window an
. Only the hollow p
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