I walked through my shift in a numb haze. Nothing felt real, nothing felt like something that mattered. I wanted to care and be involved, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I felt better knowing that Jaxon was letting me control my publishing and being in public, but I could only wonder to myself how much that would help.

As I walked out into the hall I ran into James, and I couldn’t hide my surprise that he was there.

"James?" I called out.

He ...