Jasmine

Dario waited by the door. As soon as I entered, he closed it. Instead of sitting behind his desk, he took the chair to my side as I sat in the same place where only a day ago, I’d learned my fate with Zhdan. This felt different. For what seemed like an eternity, silence reigned. It wasn’t uncomfortable, more like a warm blanket on a cool night.

“I owe you an apology,” he said.

“Why?”

“The things you were saying earlier—”

I ...