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Why does her fake plant make me so goddamn angry?
Because I’ve lost my fucking mind.
It’s time to leave.
My feet turn away from the table, and I walk deeper into the apartment.
The dark hallway—you can barely call it that—is only long enough to have one doorway on either side.
Stepping into the bathroom, I flip on the light.
It’s small and clean, as expected, the visible dinginess inherent to the age of the building and not to her cleaning skills.
The room is filled with the same lingering scent I thought I smelled earlier.
What is that? Flowers?
I open the medicine cabinet, finding a few items. It’s mostly makeup and some over-the-counter medications, but no perfume. Nothing to tie the smell to.
The shower curtain is pulled closed. It’s a vibrant yellow, matching the floor mat in front of the sink. An attempt at cheeriness in a windowless room.
I drag the curtain back, revealing a variety of bottles lining the edge of the tub. My eyes catch on a clear bottle with a black top, half full of a dark pink liquid.
I press the back of the lid, popping it open, and inhale the rich scent of roses.
It’s her.
Exiting the bathroom, I cross into the one and only bedroom.
More yellow. More clean sparseness.
I’m not surprised by the fact that her bed is made. There’s something about this woman that compels her to keep everything in its place. Something I respect.
The closed closet door beckons me. And I’m not one to deny myself, so I pull it open.
This is not like the wardrobes I’m used to seeing. I’m used to walk-in closets, clothes worn once, some never worn. Abundance.
This is not abundance.
That place long-dead inside of me gives a beat.
I haven’t forgotten what it’s like to live without.
I’ll never forget.
Just like I’ll never go back.
Leaving everything as I found it, I make my way back to the living room.
Years of practice lets me get close to her without making a sound.
She looks so calm.
I should walk out now, leave her be.
Leaning in closer, I hold out her phone and wait for the facial ID software to allow me in.
CHAPTER4
