#gnarly

Rough sketch? (Gnarly)

Halftones? (Gnarly)

Spectra brush? (Gnarly)

pairing: Lara raj x reader summary: after finishing a leg of katseye’s tour, the girls have a private get-together. lara sees you drunk for the first time. a/n: you’re katseye’s 7th member here. warnings: alcohol mention, drunk antics, teasing

The private room was warm, cozy, and filled with the sound of laughter. The seven of you had rented out a quiet space in the city to celebrate the end of the latest tour leg — no staff, no cameras, just Katseye being Katseye.

Pizza boxes and half-empty bottles of champagne littered the table. Music was playing off Megan’s phone, and Daniela had already declared, “Tonight, we are not idols. We are menaces.”

And then there was you.

Normally, you stuck close to Sophia or Yoonchae, content to watch the chaos unfold. But tonight, champagne had gotten the better of you. Three glasses in, you were center stage, hair flying, arms flailing, fully immersed in what looked like the most emotional solo performance of your life.

“Bro…” Megan stared at you, one eyebrow arched, sipping her drink. “Tell me why Y/N looks like they’re auditioning for a Shakespeare play instead of celebrating.”

Sophia snorted, clapping like she was in the audience. “Oscar-worthy.”

Daniela, sitting cross-legged on the floor, shouted, “GIVE THEM A MIC. TOUR ENCORE.” Manon, already crying with laughter, whipped her phone out. “EYEKONS NEED TO SEE THIS. THIS IS LORE.”

Yoonchae, on the other hand, was rolling on the floor like she’d been personally attacked. “HELP, I CAN’T BREATHE.”

But then your eyes found Lara. Lara Raj, relaxed on the couch, sipping water, watching you with a smile tugging at her lips.

You lit up instantly. “LARAAAAA!” you shouted, pointing dramatically like you’d just spotted her across a stadium. “Dance with me right now or you’re scared!”

The room exploded.

“NOOO WAY,” Manon howled, already zooming in with her camera. “This is straight out of a rom-com,” Megan muttered. Daniela clapped like she’d just seen the opening act. “GO RAJ, YOUR TIME TO SHINE.”

Lara set her glass down, rising to her feet with a sigh that didn’t quite hide her smile. She walked toward you, graceful despite the chaos, and leaned in just enough that her voice curled soft and teasing in your ear. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You liiiiike it,” you slurred, swaying into her space.

Her smile deepened, eyes sparkling. “Maybe I do.”

You gasped, spinning dramatically toward the others. “SHE SAID SHE DOES!”

The entire table flipped. Sophia doubled over laughing. Daniela banged her palm on the floor. Megan groaned, “I’m leaving, this is too much.” Yoonchae screamed into her pizza slice. Manon was already yelling, “OH THIS IS CINEMA.”

Lara chuckled, catching you by the waist before you stumbled. “Okay, superstar. Water time.”

“Only if you promise to marry me,” you said, lips jutting into a pout.

The room erupted into absolute chaos.

“DID THEY JUST PROPOSE?!” Daniela shrieked. Sophia’s voice cut through, calm as ever. “So… do we call her Mrs. Raj now?” “WE’RE GETTING WEDDING LORE,” Manon screamed. Yoonchae collapsed fully onto the floor, kicking her legs.

Lara just shook her head, her charm effortless as she steadied you. “You’re too much.” But her hand never left your waist.

The next morning, regret hit like a tour bus. Your head pounded, your throat was dry, and muffled voices came from the next room.

You cracked one eye open to find Lara sitting at the little table across from the bed, scrolling her phone, a glass of water and painkillers ready.

“Good morning, superstar,” she said, voice soft but laced with amusement.

You groaned, dragging the blanket over your face. “Don’t say it.”

“Don’t say what?” She tilted her head, eyes dancing. “That you declared yourself the seventh wonder of the world? Or that you proposed to me in front of everyone?”

You bolted upright. “I WHAT?!”

From the next room came Manon’s shriek. “SEVENTH WONDER OF THE WOOORLD!”

Sophia chimed in, deadpan. “Congrats on the engagement.” Megan groaned. “Hope the wedding food is better than last night’s pizza.” Daniela shouted. “I’m officiating.” Yoonchae screamed.

You buried your face in your hands. “I’m never showing my face again.”

Lara laughed, gently pulling your hands away. Her thumb brushed your knuckles as she leaned closer, voice low. “It wasn’t bad. You were… adorable. Dangerous, even.”

Your heart flipped. “Dangerous?”

Her smirk softened, turning into something warmer. “Do you know how hard it was not to kiss you last night when you yelled that you loved me loud enough for the entire city to hear?”

Your eyes widened. “I SAID THAT?!”

“Oh, yes,” she said with a grin.

From outside, Daniela shouted, “AND WE ALL HEARD IT.” Manon added, “CLIPPED FOR LORE.”

sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴋᴀᴛsᴇʏᴇ ᴡ/ sᴇᴠᴇɴᴛʜ!ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ

ᴘᴇᴀᴋ: ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ғɪʟʟᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ.

ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇs: ᴛᴏxɪᴄ!ᴋᴀᴛsᴇʏᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs, ʟᴏɴᴇʟɪɴᴇss, ɪɴsᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛɪᴇs, sᴇʟғ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ, sᴇʟғ sᴀʙᴏᴛᴀɢᴇ, sᴇʟғ ʜ4ʀᴍ, ᴘᴛsᴅ, ɴᴏ ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ, ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ

ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ɴᴏᴡ—ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴀʀᴅ ғᴏʀ ɪᴛ —ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʙʀᴜɪsᴇ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sʟᴇᴇᴘʟᴇss ɴɪɢʜᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛᴇᴀʀ ʏᴏᴜ sᴡᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ɪɴ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ɪᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴘᴀʀᴛs ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ—ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ, ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴄᴇ—ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ.

ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ... ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ ɢᴇᴛ ɪᴛ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ʏᴏᴜ ʙʟᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ— ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ? ᴀᴛ ғɪʀsᴛ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪʀᴇᴅɴᴇss—ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴇʏᴇs, ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴄʜᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ɪɴ ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍs. ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ... ɪᴛ’s ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇ ғᴇᴇʟs ʜɪɢʜᴇʀ—ᴀs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʟᴏsɪɴɢ ʙɪᴛs ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴘʀᴀʏᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ.

ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ... ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ sᴏ sᴜʀᴇ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪғ ɪᴛ’s ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ɪᴛ—ᴏʀ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ — ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴛʜɪᴄᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ. ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇᴀᴛ sᴏ ғᴀsᴛ, ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴏ ᴅʀᴏᴡɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴇᴇʀs. ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴄʀʏ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴊᴏʏ, ᴛᴇᴀʀs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪғᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғʟᴀɢ ʜɪɢʜ — ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟᴛ ɪᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴀsᴛ ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ.

ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ — ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʀɪᴇғ, ɢʟᴏʀɪᴏᴜs ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ — ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʟᴀsᴛ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇs, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ — ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴀʀᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴇᴇʀs ғᴀᴅᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʏᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴇʟsᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴛ ɪᴛ sʟɪᴅᴇ—ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ, ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ʀᴏᴅᴇᴏ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ɪᴛ’s ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ—ʏᴏᴜ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢʀᴏᴡ, ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ, ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡʜᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴀʀᴇ. ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴡʟʏ ғᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ—ɴᴏ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ʙᴏɴᴅs ʏᴇᴛ, ɴᴏ ғɪxᴇᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇs, ᴊᴜsᴛ ʀᴀᴡ ᴀᴍʙɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇʀᴠᴇs ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴛᴛʟᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀᴡ ʏᴏᴜ—ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛ, ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴋɪʟʟs, ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴜᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ.

sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴏᴄᴜs ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ — ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs. ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʟᴀᴜɢʜs, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇs, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ʜᴀʙɪᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʏs ᴏғ sʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴇʀs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀs ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴅɪᴅ.

ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ, ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍʏ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅsʜɪᴘ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ — ᴀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴍɪʟᴇ ʜɪᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛɪᴛɪᴠᴇ ғɪʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅʟʏ ɢᴇsᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ sᴛʀᴀᴛᴇɢʏ. ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴏɴᴛᴏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ — ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪʟʟ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʏᴏᴜ.

"ʜᴇʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ!" ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇʜᴇᴀʀsᴀʟ ʀᴏᴏᴍ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ᴡᴀs ʟɪᴠᴇʟʏ — ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ, ᴄʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴜsɪᴄ ʟᴏᴏᴘɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ. ᴍᴀɴᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴɪᴇʟᴀ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢᴏᴏꜰɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀɴᴇʀ, ᴍᴇɢᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀs, ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴘʜɪᴀ ᴡᴀs ɢᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʙʀᴀɪᴅɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴏɴᴄʜᴀᴇ’s ʜᴀɪʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ, ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴs sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ғᴀᴅᴇᴅ. sᴏᴍᴇ ɢɪʀʟs ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ — ᴀ ʙʀɪᴇғ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ. ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛᴇ sᴍɪʟᴇ — ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴇᴇʟs ɴɪᴄᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴡᴀʀᴍ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʀᴇʜᴇᴀʀsᴀʟ ᴀs ᴀ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ — ᴀs ᴋᴀᴛsᴇʏᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴇ sʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴsᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴡᴀʟʟs ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ — ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʀᴀɴsғᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʟᴇss ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ. ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇʀ — ᴀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ sᴏᴏɴ, ᴀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇɴᴅᴜʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ, ғᴏʀᴄɪɴɢ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ.

ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʟʟ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ — ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ sᴍɪʟᴇs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇ ᴏɴᴇs.

ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ — ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ ᴡᴀs ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʙᴏɴᴅ ᴛɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴜɴғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴀʏɪɴɢ, sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ — ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏɴ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜᴇɴ sᴏᴘʜɪᴀ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ, ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ — ʙᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏғғ, ɪᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇs, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴀ ғᴀᴠᴏʀ, ᴡʜᴇɴ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ғɪʟʟ ɪɴ, ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ. ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ɪᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀ ɢʜᴏsᴛ ʟɪɴɢᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ — ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʟɪғᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ɪᴛ — ᴀɴᴅ sᴏ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs, ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ sᴏ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴅᴇ. ᴀɴ ᴜɴʜᴇʟᴅ sᴍɪʟᴇ, ᴀ ғʀᴏᴢᴇɴ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ — ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴇᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴀʙᴇʟᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀs “ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ,” “ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɢʀᴀᴛᴇғᴜʟ ᴏɴᴇ,” ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀsᴇ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ — “ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʟʟᴇʀ.”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ɪɴ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴄʜᴏᴏsɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғɪx ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ. ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴜsɪɴᴇss. ʏᴏᴜ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʟɪɴɢᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴ ғʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀs — ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ, ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴘʀᴏғᴇssɪᴏɴᴀʟ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ — ᴏɴᴇ ᴄʟɪᴘ, ᴏɴᴇ ғʀᴀᴍᴇ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇxᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ɢᴏ.

ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴀʀᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴋɪɴᴅɴᴇss, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʜᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sʟɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғɪᴛ ɪɴ — ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴇᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ.

ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏsᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏɴꜰɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴀᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ʙʏ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ — ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀɪsᴏɴ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sɪʟᴇɴᴛ sɴɪᴄᴋᴇʀ.

“ʏ/ɴ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ.”

“ᴄᴀɴ sʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ sɪɴɢ?”

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ’s ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ? sʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ.”

“sʜᴇ’s sᴏ ʙᴏʀɪɴɢ.”

“ʏ/ɴ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴋᴀᴛsᴇʏᴇ.”

“ᴠɪsᴜᴀʟ ʜᴏʟᴇ.”

ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ꜱᴛᴜᴄᴋ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴛʜᴏʀɴ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱᴋɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴsᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛɪᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ʀᴏᴛ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ, ɪɴᴛᴏ ꜰᴇᴀʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴜsʜ ɪᴛ ᴏꜰꜰ, ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ — ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛs ʏᴏᴜ?

ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇᴀʟ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ? ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴘᴇᴀᴋ, ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʀᴏʟʟ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇʏᴇs?

ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ — ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ᴀ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴇᴛᴛʟᴇꜱ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇꜱᴛ, ᴀɴ ᴀᴄʜᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ’ᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛs ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴀʙᴇʟs ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ꜱɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ — ʜᴏᴡ ᴅɪᴅ ɪᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ? ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴅɪᴅ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍ?

ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴏᴏᴍ — ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ, ᴘᴀʀᴛʏɪɴɢ, ʟᴀᴜɢʜɪɴɢ, ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ɪɴᴠɪᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ — ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅ — ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ғᴇᴇʟ ɪᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇs, ᴛʜᴇ sɪʟᴇɴᴛ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴅ sᴀʏ ɴᴏ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀʏᴇᴅ — ɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏ̨ᴜɪᴇᴛ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴢᴢ ᴏғ ɴᴇᴏɴ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀғᴇɴɪɴɢ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇsᴛ. ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ. ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʟʟ, ɴᴏ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀʏ ᴏɴ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs — ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴛᴏᴏ ғᴏᴄᴜsᴇᴅ, ᴛᴏᴏ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ, ᴛᴏᴏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀsᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ. ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴡᴀs ғᴀʀ ᴀᴡᴀʏ — ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴢᴏɴᴇs ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ — sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀʟʟ. ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ — sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ, ᴅᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀʏʙᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍ, ᴘᴏsᴛɪɴɢ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏs ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ғʟᴀsʜɪɴɢ ʟɪɢʜᴛs. ʏᴏᴜ sᴄʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ɪᴛs ᴡᴀʏ ᴏɴᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪᴘs — ᴘᴀᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʏᴏᴜ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪғ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʙsᴇɴᴄᴇ — ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅɪᴅ. ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ — ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴀᴛʀᴇᴅ.

“ʏ/ɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋs ᴅᴜʟʟ.”

“sʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ғɪᴛ.”

“ᴡʜʏ ɪs sʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴋᴀᴛsᴇʏᴇ?”

"ɪᴛ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ***** ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ"

"sʜᴇ's ɴᴏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ"

ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ — ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟs ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ — ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ, ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ, ᴀᴅᴏʀᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟᴛ ɪᴛ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇsᴛ — ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ, ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ sᴘᴏᴛ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴғɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ. ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ғᴏʀɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ — ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪɴᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ sᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ᴀsɪᴅᴇ, ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴏғғ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ sᴡᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴏ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ — ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴜɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ. ᴛᴇᴀʀs ғᴇʟʟ ᴄᴀʀᴇʟᴇssʟʏ, ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋs ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ sᴏʙʙᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ sʜᴏᴏᴋ. ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ — ɪᴛ sᴛɪɴɢᴇᴅ, ɪᴛ ʙᴜʀɴᴇᴅ — ʙᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴀ sɪᴄᴋ, ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀ ᴡᴀʏ, ɪᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟ.

ᴘᴀɪɴ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʀᴏᴏғ ᴏғ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ — ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʀᴏᴏғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴘᴜᴘᴘᴇᴛ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ʙʏ sᴛʀɪɴɢs, ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏʟʟ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ᴅʀᴇssᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴏʀ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍᴘᴛɪᴏɴ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ — ᴡᴇᴀʀʏ, ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴛᴏ ғᴇᴇʟ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʙʟᴀᴍᴇ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ sᴏʙs, ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ — ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜɪs ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ.

ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʏᴏᴜ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴜʟᴛ — ғᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ғɪᴛ ɪɴ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴏꜰꜰ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴜsʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴏ̨ᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ sᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ, ᴏʀ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴅᴇꜰᴇɴsɪᴠᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ ʟᴇᴛ ɢᴏ.

ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ — ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ғɪɴᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ɢɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʟ, ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜɪᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴀᴍʙɪᴛɪᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴɪsᴍ — ᴀ ʜᴜɴɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ sᴀʏɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ.

ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴅᴅᴇsᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ — ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍ. ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ — ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ, ғᴀʟʟɪɴɢ, ᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇᴇɴ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ғᴀᴜʟᴛ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟ.

sᴛɪʟʟ, ɪᴛ ᴄʀᴀᴡʟᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴋɪɴ — ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ɪᴛ ʙᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ sᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴅɪᴢᴢʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏɪsᴇ. ᴍᴏɴᴛʜs ᴘᴀssᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ɢʀᴇᴡ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ɴᴏᴡ ʙʟᴀᴢᴇᴅ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ sᴄʀᴇᴇɴs. ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪsʜᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ — ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇᴅ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ɴᴀᴍᴇs, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀs. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʜᴇᴇʀᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʟᴀʀᴀ’s ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ, ғᴏʀ sᴏᴘʜɪᴀ’s sᴍɪʟᴇ, ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇɢᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴɪᴇʟᴀ’s ᴅᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ, ғᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴏɴᴄʜᴀᴇ’s ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ? ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴠᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs, sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀɢᴇ — ғʟᴀᴡʟᴇss, ʏᴇᴛ ɪɴᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʟɪɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀɴɢ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴛᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ — ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏ ᴇʏᴇs ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ. ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ sᴀᴡ ʏᴏᴜ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴋɪʟʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛ — ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴘᴏʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs, ᴛᴏᴏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇs. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs “ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ.” ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ, ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀ, ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜɪs ɪɴᴅᴜsᴛʀʏ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛs. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛs ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ғᴀᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ᴘᴏsᴇs. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ — ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.

ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ, ᴛᴏᴏ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴛᴏᴏ ғᴜʟʟ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ — ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴀɪɴ.

“ʏ/ɴ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ʀᴜɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ! sʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴀ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ sᴛᴇᴘ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ!” ᴍᴇɢᴀɴ ʙʟᴜʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ, ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴀs sʜᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ʙᴀᴄᴋsᴛᴀɢᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ — ɢᴏɴᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴏ̨ᴜɪᴄᴋ ʙᴀᴛʜʀᴏᴏᴍ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ — sᴏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴅᴏ.

“ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ,” ʟᴀʀᴀ sᴀɪᴅ ᴄᴀʀᴇʟᴇssʟʏ, ʙʀᴜsʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɪʀ ʙᴀᴄᴋ “ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ’s ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛᴜɴᴇ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀɪғғ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴍᴇss.” sᴏᴘʜɪᴀ sɴᴏʀᴛᴇᴅ, “ᴏʜ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ, ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ sᴛɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴇᴅs ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴏғ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ. ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ sʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍ ᴀᴛ ᴀ ʙɪɢ sʜᴏᴡ ɪғ sʜᴇ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴅʀᴜɴᴋ ᴍᴀɴɪᴄ?” ᴅᴀɴɪᴇʟᴀ ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ, sᴏᴘʜɪᴀ ʟᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ʜᴀʀsʜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ. “ᴇxᴀᴄᴛʟʏ! ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ɢᴇᴛs ғᴏʀ sʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴏғғ. ɪ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ****.” ᴍᴀɴᴏɴ sᴍɪʀᴋᴇᴅ, ʙʀᴜsʜɪɴɢ ɪɴᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ ᴅᴜsᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴅʀᴇss. “ᴡᴇʟʟ, ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛᴇᴅ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴛᴏᴏ — ʙᴜᴛ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ɪ ᴇᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.” sʜᴇ ʟᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ sʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ, ʟᴀᴜɢʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ — ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇxᴘᴇɴsᴇ.

“ɪsɴ’ᴛ sʜᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ғɪʟʟᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ?” ʏᴏᴏɴᴄʜᴀᴇ ᴘɪᴘᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ, ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴅʀɪᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄᴏɴᴅᴇsᴄᴇɴsɪᴏɴ. “ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜʏ sʜᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛᴇᴅ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ — ᴛʜᴇʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ғɪʟʟ ᴀ sᴘᴏᴛ.” ᴅᴀɴɪᴇʟᴀ ɴᴏᴅᴅᴇᴅ, “ᴏʜ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ. sʜᴇ’s ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ? ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ sᴇɴsᴇ ɴᴏᴡ.”

ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs ᴍɪɴɢʟᴇᴅ, ᴄᴀsᴜᴀʟ ʏᴇᴛ ᴄʀᴜᴇʟ, ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ʙᴏᴜɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴏғғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴇssɪɴɢ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴡᴀʟʟs. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ — sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀ, ғʀᴏᴢᴇɴ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ɴᴇᴇᴅʟᴇ, ᴘɪᴇʀᴄɪɴɢ sʟᴏᴡʟʏ, ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ, ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴏʀ sᴀᴅɴᴇss ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ.

ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇsᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ, ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ sᴜғғᴏᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢᴏssɪᴘ — ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʀᴇᴊᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴅɪsɢᴜɪsᴇᴅ ᴀs ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, sɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ.

ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ɪᴛ — ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʟʟ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ɪɴᴛᴏ ɪᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴛɪʟʟ… ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ. ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ.

ᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅs — ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇss. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ sʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ sʟᴏᴡ ᴘᴀᴄᴇ, ʏᴏᴜʀ sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʜᴀɴᴅs, ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ — ᴏʀ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʜᴇʟᴅ — ɢᴏɴᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ sᴋɪʟʟs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴀʟᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴇɴᴠɪᴇᴅ — ғᴀᴅᴇᴅ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴍ, ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀᴇ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs — ᴇxᴛɪɴɢᴜɪsʜᴇᴅ.

ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴡᴀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ʙɪᴛs — ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ, ᴍᴇss, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢɴᴀᴡɪɴɢ ʟᴏɴᴇʟɪɴᴇss ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟɪᴠᴇs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇsᴛ.

ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ — ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ.

ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ, ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡᴅ — ɪɴᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ, ʏᴇᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏʙʙɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ɴᴏᴡ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙɪɢɢᴇsᴛ sᴛᴀɢᴇ — ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ɴᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ.

ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ.