That’s not

Doesn’t

He didn’t

No, she

He did

He didn’t

Assumed, she wasn’t

Too late

Why didn’t he

What else did he

Too late

Listen

Ropes, wasn’t

He wasn’t

He can’t

Why

No

Stop

Stop

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong.

He watches his reflection in the tea. There is no more steam to obscure it.

“I understand.” The chair does not budge as he rises. The ropes lie where they fall. “Thank you for your time. I will not take up any more of it.” A soft smile. A polite bow. Not too big. Not too deep. “If there are any problems, please let me know. Send word to Dolce; it will get to me.”

He turns. One. Two. Three. He steps. One. Two. Three. He opens the door. One. He steps outside. Two. He closes it. He holds the handle. He turns. He turns. He turns the latch closed. Three.

[i]Run[/i]

He walks the path back to the woods.

One.

Two.

Three.