The Road to Independence

" Flora, are you sure you are ready to do this?" Marissa asked still as they squinched in a shadowy alcove of a small boîte eatery, the sound of dishes chinking and muted hum of other patrons drifting around them like ambient noise.

Flora's voice was firm but pigmented with moping sadness," I am well and truly ready, Marissa. I have spent far too long caching behind what other people wanted me to be. I can no longer pretend that I am part of a world which only sees ...