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My clothes from yesterday are folded over the chair. The black skirt. The shirt Heather picked. My choker is laid carefully on top.

The bracelet is still around my wrist.

JAMIE.

I turn it until the letters disappear against the inside of my arm. My hair falls over my shoulder when I sit up. It’s still smooth. I run my fingers through it.

I shouldn’t be thinking about her brushing it. Or asking her to do it again tonight. I get out of bed.

The plaque from my apartment is hanging above the vanity.

YOU ARE FUCKING FABULOUS.

“Yeah, well. Apparently fabulous gets you kidnapped.”

I look at myself in the mirror.

Yesterday’s makeup is gone except for a little darkness beneath one eye. My hair actually looks good for someone who slept on it. The bracelet catches in the mirror. I turn my wrist over again.

A key turns in the lock. Heather opens the door. She’s already dressed. Hair up. Coffee in one hand. The ugly bracelet is still around her wrist.

“Good morning.”

I keep my eyes on her face. “Do you always lock people in overnight?”

“Dolls, yes.”

At least she’s consistent.

“Breakfast is ready.” She turns and walks away.

I stay where I am.

Heather makes it three steps before she stops and looks back. “Jamie. Breakfast.”

“You’re just letting me walk around now?”

“You behaved yesterday.”

I look past her toward the stairs. “And if I don’t today?”

Her eyes flick toward me. “Then today will be ugly and tomorrow will start differently.”

Right.

I follow her downstairs. The front door is visible from the bottom of the stairs. Three deadbolts. No key. I already knew that. I check anyway.

Heather keeps walking.

The kitchen smells like coffee and toast. There’s a plate at one side of the table and another across from it.

I stop.

Yesterday she worked while I colored like a hostage at daycare. Today she made herself breakfast too.

Heather sits and reaches for her coffee. “Sit down.”

I sit.