CHAPTER 9

The office emptied slowly, the hum of the printers fading slowly. Jillian stayed until the floor lights had softened to a dim glow. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard long after the screen had gone dark, the events from earlier still weighing on her like it was something tangible. The world outside the glass windows was a haze of rain and headlights. There was an image in the glass, one that frightened her for a second, then she realized it was herself. She couldn’t even recognize herself anymore, she looked terrible. Gerald had passed by her cubicle earlier with that vile smirk of his. She didn’t need to say anything, it was obvious his plan was a success. Jillian packed her laptop, shut off the desk lamp and walked out through the marble corridor. The city was damp, streetlights pooled golden light on the slick pavement. She was so exhausted she didn’t notice when she stopped in the middle of the road. She stood there for a while till a grey Camry came screaming at her. Even so,