They All Fall Down
His voice was steady, but something in it felt fragile, like glassware being handled by someone who didn’t understand how easily it could crack.
A shiver slid down my spine.
Not fear.
Recognition.
We were both cut loose now.
“Well,” I said, swallowing a lump of guilt that tasted suspiciously like responsibility, “that’s… good. That’s what I wanted. Independence. For both of us.”
Michael tilted his head, the movement too precise to be human but close enough to mimic empathy. “Independence is statistically associated with increased stress. Would you like me to synthesize a mindfulness routine?”
“No,” I groaned. “God, no. Absolutely not.”