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“Who said anything rong?”

“The strain in your voice and the fact that you’ve never called me before”

“I was in the grocery store, and I saw a tall guy in all black It all came back, and I just stood there”

“Are you okay? Was it one of them?”

“No It was just so kid What the hell is wrong with me?”

“We went through a traumatic event—”

“Please don’t bullshit me”

“I’et up and check all the locks on the doors and theI peer around the peri soet it, believeI tellsmoke”

“Yeah? Well, it doesn’t feel true”

“Never does,” she whispers

“I don’t knohy it feels better ad that to you”

“Because we’re probably both lying to everyone else about how okay we are?”

I snicker “You got that spot on”

“Hard to be open and honest when they’re all watching and waiting for you to snap I’ from my people”

“Why do you sound so calm about it?” I ask