Excerpts Novels & Stories

The travel agency had a nifty feature: they equipped both tourists and guides with locators to keep everyone from getting separated. Chester barged in with a plate of food and plopped down next to me, gripping me tightly. He nuzzled into my neck, inhaling deeply. "I've missed you so much." He clung on, refusing to let go, and tried to spoon-feed me. "Here, let me." I slapped the spoon away. "What's the point? I don't feel anything for you anymore." The spoon, made of glass, shattered on the floor. Chester squeezed tighter, and I struggled to catch my breath.

The comments were already popping. [Congrats on escaping misery and starting fresh!] [Omg Ella's living a rom-com. How'd you score a hot CEO?] Chuck—handsome, rich, CEO of a public company. Everyone knew who he was. Ella was eating it up. [Because I'm young and cute? Lol. Actually, he loves me.] [Don't be jelly—you'll find your prince too!] I just sat there, staring. The bitterness didn't even sting—it was almost funny.

Sera's Pov I read it twice. Phase Two: Extraction or Termination. The second time I read it I was making sure I had read it right the first time. I had. The words did not change between readings, they did not soften or rearrange themselves into something less precise. Extraction or termination. Two options on a list, clean and bureaucratic, written by someone who had typed my existence into a document the same way they would type a supply order or a meeting agenda.