A Decade Undone by Deceit

reen, then on me. The air was thick

echoing in the dead-quiet room. "I also got y

ing to cover the gaping hole of the truth. My ears were ringing. I couldn' t hear a thing

ended. The sc

feeling unsteady. I walke

day," I said, my voice surprisingly s

ent throug

ds tasting like freedom. "As you can see, she' s found he

-I still couldn' t drink.

ed congratulations and goodbyes. The j

the party had died

onight?" I asked, my v

up here," she said, her lie so eas

in my hand and dropped it in

ten years at least that much respect. But she wa

o the HR office to s

rs wants her favorite dessert from that little bakery downtown. Can you possibly gr

tes from the office. She wasn' t in Jap

tled over me. I needed t

ite was idyllic, with luxury tents and

em: "Congratulations, K+J!" They were having their own private celebration for the deal.

ng them. A couple bumped into

been my entire world, and I smiled.

Kendal," I

y who gave up his guitar, for the man who gave up his

cades in a lifetime. I wou

logo of the bakery, our bakery, and her face went pale. She knew. She frant

rum. I signed the last form, deleted my digital footprin

with my last box of belongings,

rushed in, her face a mask of panic. She st

ach other in the shaft, on

r crossed p