Note from a stranger

pte

amidst t

re the rain had streaked the glass in the same way that she refused to shed any tears. Daniel

ver requested to walk alongside her. They either attempted to acquire her or fled when they were unable to. Both had been done by Daniel. Because of this, he frightened her the most. The consequences began slowly. She did not respond to Daniel's text until the evening, when

the salon. "So you broke the thing that wasn't broken," she

ping imaginary dust from the counter. "It

real. That's w

ror, catching a glimpse of her own reflection-tired

el had not been observed there. It felt like a loss. But more than that

l in love without ever returning? There was time for a response in the silence. not a statement. Not a re

ecked contracts on vacation and read Supreme Court decisions like bedtime stories. While Eli had always floated through life with romantic notions and revolution

htful, and when loyalty was earned, he was fierce. particularly with regard to his younger brother. They were once close, at least when I was young. Their mother had died young, and their father had drowned himself in liquor and real estate. So, Henry became Eli's compass. Henry kept the lights on while Eli wandered through activism, music, and midnight protests. He

home late one night to find his brother pacing in his apartment,

e DA's office, Judge Grimaldi, even the police. They buried test

eb: Councilman Richard Marlowe. a man with whom Henry had dined last month. "Where did you purchase this?" Henry inquired slowly. At the archive recor

you've done? You can't just steal government property. You can

ys trying to protect me, but prot

aptop shut. "No, but

silence. Eli's voice became soft.

humb drives passed through back doors. It's found in proced

ry stared at his brother. Idealistic. Brave. Naïve. And compl

if this goes deeper than

ublic, they wouldn't just face lawsuits. They'd face retaliation. The kind that killed people with fire. Despite this, Eli was charging ahead. Organizing town halls. journalist contacts. Whispering to victims. His fire was taking hold. El

It is careless. They could

t scared

fe trying to keep you safe. And you-" His voice beca

once taught him to ride a bike and bandaged his

ired Eli's courage. But admiration wasn't the same as agreement. And

of files and fears, they both knew: something had shifte