“No,” he said. “But it’s mine.”
One night, he kissed her. It tasted like burnt sugar and something raw. She kissed him back, even though her inventory had a strict rule: Never fall for a customer. The chemistry is never stable. love and other drugs
Leo’s face went pale. “You could give me back the six hours I erased. The night she left. The things I said.” “No,” he said
That night, he injected it in the bathroom of her apartment. She heard him sob through the door—a wet, ancient sound. When he came out, his eyes were red but clear. He remembered everything. The slammed door. The silence in the car. The exact pitch of her voice when she said I don’t love you anymore. She kissed him back, even though her inventory
He bought it. Came back the next day, pupils blown wide, smiling like a cracked mirror.
“Was it worth it?” Mara whispered.