A Night Before Ruin

I

egs just took me home. Maybe I thought I could pret

t hinge yet. Same dusty air, same peeling walls. The light i

I stepped over the pile of unopened mail and lowered my bag

through the silence like a warning bell. I walked faster, hea

blanket around his legs was damp. I could see the stains, see t

the thermometer. It beeped too soon. The reading blinked red. "

I just... I got tired waiting for you." His eyes drifted tow

they would break if I said them louder. He blinked, then looked

y through. He tried to sit up but winced and stopped. "Lila, you w

ched for a clean one. "They said the order came from the top. Th

gers gripped mine a little tighter. His knuckles looked pale and

ressed the corners under. "It happened so fast. One moment I was

pills on the dresser. One bottle was empty. I shook it anyway

e prescription pad Nurse Daniels left months ago. It was gone. I c

et now. Like he was afraid of his own words. "He knocked

I was rising. I went to the living room. Sure enough, a yello

l no

. I could not read them all. Not right now. I let the paper

ighs. My phone buzzed once in my lap. I looked down. A syst

ED. STAFF BA

vice elevators anymore. I could not even pretend to belon

was near the hallway. He was trying to get up. I could hear h

hair by the wall. "But it is fine. I will call someone. Maybe

me. His eyes were glassy, pale green like fog. "If your mother w

ut. I looked down, then back up. "I am sorry. I just... I cannot

er of the room where the paint peeled like old skin. He stared

es met mine again. "You never come home this late. And you n

about that yet. Not him. Not the man with the quiet voice. N

n, into his elbow. "Just... be careful, Lila. Sometimes thing

egg, two apples, and an empty bottle of orange juice. I sighed,

d the remote again. The volume came up too loud at first, then dr

e pan, holding the handle tight. My hands felt slippery. I t

mach twist. Not because it was loud. Because it was too quiet

lked toward the screen. On

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