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And then I left

That world, the innocent little fishbowl of young adult angst people like to call college, isn’t meant for me I am older than they are I always have been I am smarter than they are I always have been

‘I’et your head off your pillow in the ht in otten fainter I haven’t seen her for half a year, and yet her voice clings inIt’s either a testaly persistent personality, or a testao of the last fewtruly happy Happy? I’m unsure if I was ever happy, even with her It’s a mishmash of fuzzy memories and stolen uilt that is Sophia’s face

Maybe I was happy But it’s pointless There’s no real value in being happy

There’s no real value in so roads of Coluather five deep and Matson containers choke the dusty, fenced-in lots Twoand unloading with creaking, dutiful slowness Men in orange vests and hardhats weave between containers, checking the contents,obscenities at each other over the ordered chaos Gregory - a tall, broad-shouldered man with an impressive white mustache and a tweed suit - stands in a near-ea dark suit like me His posture is tense, yet relaxed, his hair spiked and his eyes dark A dragon tattoo twines up his neck It’s Charlie Moriyauard, aside from me

Across from both of them is a woman with black hair tied up in a neat bun She shuns a business skirt for a wo every part a professional But a professional of what, I can’t quite tell There’s no obvious weapon lu dealer or tattoos that wouldmember are well-hidden, if they exist at all She doesn’t even wear ory’s services are usually wealthy housewives with a vengeance

Gregory sees , and waves me over He plays the jolly old man bit almost too well, but it serves to hide the vicious businessman, wizened soldier, and master black-belt beneath

"Jack! Vanessa and I were just talking about you"

I sidle up beside Charlie, who crosses his ar"

"Had to make a detour," I say "Road construction"

Charlie snorts "Yeah? Is this the saot you on the news last week?"

"Charlie, c’ory smiles "Let’s at least try to pretend to be friends when in front of –" He turns and cocks an eyebrow at the wo her what she is

"Let’s call me a potential client for now," Vanessa says Her blue eyes are sharp, and riveted to

" – in front of a potential client," Gregory finishes "Besides, Jack’s entitled to his five minutes If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous"

Charlie scoffs "Jealous? Yeah, boss, I’m real jealous of wannabe Batman over here"