Nikolai's PovIt was a dinner, wednesday evening. The three of us at the table.Ivan had said something about the book Ace was reading and Ace had looked up and opened his mouth to respond and then there was a half second pause before he answered. Small. The kind of gap most people would never notice.I noticed.It was not a thinking pause. It was a deciding pause. He had landed on his response before that half second and used the half second to decide whether to give it. He gave a shorter version of what he had been about to say and looked back at his plate.That was not Ace being quiet. That was Ace managing.Something had gotten to him, not the general doubt from last week, something more specific. Something with a shape, i knew the difference because the general doubt had made him quieter but still present. This was different. He was still at the table, still answering, still saying good night when he went upstairs. But something behind it had moved to a different position.Aft
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