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“You have no record of any known family,” she finally says, as if this will be news to me

“I know” I keep the s feeling spreading in o “I think there’s been a glitch in the syste My brother and I were separated ere young, and I’ up any information about him I can possibly find”

Her gaze flicks up toin her eyes—as if I’ve accused her of personally taking the file out back and burning it in a dumpster “We don’t lose entire people here, miss”

“I know” It’s getting harder to hang on to my pleasant expression “I just know that a lot of kids co I could—”

“We can’t give out personal information on any children to non-family members,” she says abruptly

“Right But I am his family member”

“You don’t even know his name”

“I know, but…”

The conversation only devolves froo around and around with the wo less helpful, ave up this search in the first place

I don’t have enough Fuck, I barely have anything

I’ my head on the counter in frustration when a familiar prickle raises the s off lance behind me

Marcus leans against the wall near the door, a soft sweater hugging his broad shoulders He lifts his eyebrohen I catch his gaze, and I wonder how long he’s been standing there

How much did he hear?

Can he see how close I a my shit?

I don’t want to do that—even less so now that he’s here watching—so I mutter a cursory thanks to the woman behind the desk and then turn and head for the entrance door I push outside into the bright,to wait for Marcus