The Lies He Raised Me With

up of other new recruits, was led through long, sterile hallways lit with artificial lights. She was

pho

nter

side world, except thro

floor and a strict daily schedule designed to str

meters deep, hidden from the world. It

ked them thro

rs from 5 a.

es, and sleep s

and meals

for disobedie

Verena nodded, said nothi

classified under covert intelligence. Her roommates were enr

ading material and told to study everything within 48 ho

ame th

ogical. Timed questions, memory

ough, she n

want to go home," she whisper

and his promise to wait for h

week, a surprise a

envelope with t

my fu

side, but life is complet

Without you, I live in th

be tough-I know you

Please stay stron

s y

a

chest, tears falling quietly dow

my

aining. I wanted to come hom

now. I miss you m

or me,

re

two a

re her. She passed the next mental evaluation-barely, but it was progress. H

ere was n

rself maybe

e patterns in the tests, the way they were meant to bend the

ill no

m-the final one for that month. The instructor

t time since arriving, s

urned to her room, she che

pt

eart

e for

tt wo

nce hurt more t