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I walk into the roo to prevent

And then I wait

I don’t hear anything, and yet my eyes fly open They are flooded with tears, as is my pillowcase I wipe the wetness fro to keep the tears at bay

I sit up in bed and dig the gun out of the pocket of the leather jacket I’ as I listen carefully for the intruder that I feel in my bones is her

e

Stay alive—that’s what he said

I almost want to die just to disobey him

I hear nothing

No footsteps, no creak of the floorboard or door, no talking

It was nothing I’ paranoid

Goosebuh with Langston’s jacket wrapped around my arms

I s exactly who is on the ship

The door opens, and I don’t even bother to lift the gun to aim

“That was quick,” I say

“I didn’t trust that you could keep yourself alive withoutinto trouble whenever possible”