Phoenix Maplewood You couldn't stand to be near me.

Tulukiri seemed very honest, maybe to a fault. Atreus blinked, though he supposed he was grateful for the straightforward answer. Before he could think of how to respond, she elaborated. His nostrils flared as he listened. His own situation wasn’t exactly the same, though he felt a flare of commmiseration when she said, “They’re forgettable.”

She asked him if she liked where he lived. He had told her didn’t live anywhere, though of course they both knew that wasn’t true, by merit of its impossibility. But unlike her, Atreus wasn’t ready and willing to bear his soul to a perfect stranger. His mouth opened as if he meant to reply, though he hesitated.

He decided on a simple, No. And then Atreus couldn’t resist adding, I hate it here. Well, there, but he couldn’t be bothered with semantics at the moment.