Abby

Five minutes feels like an eternity. I pace Karl’s kitchen as he quickly gets ready

in the other room, not even taking a moment to take in the fact that this is Karl’s

apartment, and I’m here for the first time ever. The whole place is awash with

his scent in an almost intoxicating way, the leather chairs and brick walls a

perfect representation of his taste: dark, understated, and professional.

Finally, after what feels like hours, Karl finally steps out of his room. Surprisingly,

despite the time crunch, he looks… good.

His hair is combed neatly, and he’s wearing a professional button-down shirt

with black slacks and a pair of loafers. Somehow, even in his haste, he always

Enter title…

manages to look put-together. I wish I could say the same; I feel like a

trainwreck right now.

However, as he puts on his blue surgical mask, I glance at the clock. My eyes

widen in horror.

“Oh my god, we have only fifteen minutes to make it!” I exclaim, my throat

feeling dry from the hectic morning.

“We’ll make it, Abby. Trust me,” he says, his words muffled behind the mask.

I swallow. “We have to run to the subway. Maybe we can still—”

Karl holds up his car keys with a chuckle that says he has everything under

control. The keys jingle against each other as he wiggles them back and forth.

you have

voice leaps an octave.

not making it if

that I’ve seen so many times before. It’s his ‘trust

“Just trust me,

with a sigh. “I trust

rush downstairs and jump into

to life, and Karl zips out

man on a mission.

“Seatbelt,” he barks.

as he swings

the edges of the seat, whiteknuckled, my other hand clutching the pendant of

are you trying to get

us there on time,” he

on the dashboard, my stomach lurching.

can’t believe we’re really attempting

can’t help but feel a surge of invigorating adrenaline

day Karl and I ran from those poachers through

an intersection, the light

pedal to the floor,

flips red, and another car enters

straight at us.

“KARL!”

screeching, missing the other car by a

screeching halt, the other

obscenities from his window.

my eyes widening even

laying on their horns.

off, and once we’re out of the intersection,

even me. “Are you insane? Be more

our

looks at me, his eyes meeting mine through the rearview mirror. “And

it on time because I

My voice is

he says.

suddenly, there it is—the TV studio. Karl

front, and I glance at the clock again. Five minutes to spare. My heart

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