Dylan pushed open the storage room door. The light was still on. Clara was sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes closed.

A sharp pang hit his chest. "Clara?"

She opened her eyes slowly, rubbing her temples. "Hey, you're done with work?"

Dylan reached out his hand, motioning for her to come over.

She walked over and hooked her fingers through his.

He led her out. "Didn't I tell you? If someone mouths off at you, don't just take it. Give it right back."

"She didn't say anything," Clara mumbled.

They stepped into the master bedroom, all understated luxury. Clara grabbed one

of Dylan's pajama shirts and disappeared into the bathroom.

The shower started up almost immediately.

Dylan lingered outside the door. "Are you upset? Did something get to you?"

Inside, Clara stared at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized her own reflection.

She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled out that photo again.

Every time she looked at it, her head throbbed so badly she wanted to scream.

She shoved the photo away, rushed through her shower, then crawled under the covers without another word.

down at the edge of the bed, took her wrist gently, and kissed the back of her hand. "I've already taken care

have a phone," she

went missing, he'd been so paranoid he'd even taken her

fluttered. "I'll have someone bring

tomorrow."

eyes, her voice soft.

watched her for a moment,

to shower. When he came back, she was already fast asleep, her

sleep-never could, not in the Ferguson

didn't sleep well either. She twisted restlessly, caught in

and achingly

gentle voice echoed

game? If you can hold a squat for an hour, I'll take you out for candied fruit,

"Really?"

keep time for

as she drifted

small table on the bed, catching up on work

returned. "Coach isn't here today. I'll take you out. What do you

go to the amusement

been? I'll show

flickered past, fast and blurry-like memories from a life she couldn't quite

stuffed animal she'd won, sprinting

too. She was punished with hours more of squats,

is coach so strict

expression complicated, still holding the squat beside

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