Breaking Up

in an eerie ki

comforti

to jump out the window just to

, as cold as the leather seat pressing against her skin. Her eyes flicked toward the man driving-h

car would be filled

ing words,

k like a normal person. Why do y

day? N

at was

wo

's heart started to race, thudding fas

out like a trapped mou

, he interrupted her. Qui

not goi

blinked

ng to the

rds. Fla

anded like

aighter. "What

is go on for too long. You're not a child anymore, Silvia. I can't keep

eputa

This wasn't

s abo

whispered, the words

not what

d at her

or a s

a laser cutting st

way you think.

sound like

diagnosis. Like

yes ar

y is c

nd isn'

till slick with rain, reflecting the streetlights in dull, golden p

nst her lap, brushing the faint,

ted to

nted t

said n

out of

a prison painted white.

So many

Temperature. Neu

plana

nvers

son to them. Jus

a tank full of fish swimming behind glass. Their world

nurse called, "Silvia Av

he fish. Then she

ite. Floor to ceiling. Like even th

rofessional. Glasses, c

gh the test resul

ather and daughter. "We've completed all examin

s heart

lly, your daughter is

hesi

er father

gnals about seven times faster than average. It's extremely rare. Comparable to the way flies perceive time

e darkened. "So

g. She thinks too fast. It's not a disease. It's not something to cure. It's not even something we know how to cure. The only way

h a bitter sneer, "you'd be surprised

You know her best. And maybe you're the only one who can help

e doctor. "So... there'

. "No, Silvia. There's more right

er said

he'd been slapp

e stood. "

avier by the time they

Silvia's silenc

ightning just waiting

sick. But that doesn't excuse what you did yesterday. I

dn't a

hink before you

word

rm

nd," she sa

se. A business partner. I n

owned.

it invo

n light. Rain pooled on the concrete

gate. Sleek. Expensive. So out of p

tilting her face upward. The drops

reath and wa

sofa like he owned the world. Beside him, a boy

in the door

shock. "Silvia? Wha

is my

d to the man beside him. "Yo

ed, having swapped his blazer for a dark sweater. H

ch other," he said. "Good.

what is this? Why

but firmly, "This isn't jus

Silvia asked, unease

en exchan

man in white said. "Y

le

er outside. As if the

and Waksi said a

rward, face pale. "Th

panies are merging. And we're sealing the agr

ible! We argue every week! Silvia's-she's weird. She s

ia snapped. "You're stubborn, antisocial, impossible to

out like or dislike. This is about your future. Y

tterly. "So we're actors in

. If the relationship fails, the deal falls apar

omething else for your little agreement? Like... a goat.

e stare

expres

opped thinkin

the bridge of his nose like t

told you-say nothing!

ell q

l. To throw the t

lat, cold, warning-told

er, handing them a crisp con

outed. "You ca

ouse. And don't come back," his

lenched

ked at

es sai

e didn

shaking hand,

her fingers s

ially a couple. Starting tomorrow, show the world you're

wanted

ct copy in her lap. Outside, rain still fell, th

e final line, the one that

agement, full company control t