 into the narrow crevice between the door and the wall, slid it down until she came to the bolt. She jimmied the plastic back and forth. Something clicked.

This time when she tried the knob, it turned smoothly.

Georgia smirked. What would Darius say if he could see her now? The instant the thought crossed her mind, her chest hollowed. She ducked her head and opened the door.

A gust of air rushed out. The office smelled musty and a little sweet; like incense and old books. Just underneath that was the faint aroma of lily-of-the-valley. Georgia quickly ducked inside, shut the door behind her. The fading sun slanted through a single window on the opposite wall, providing just enough light to see by.

Georgia took a deep breath and headed for the desk. She turned on the computer, glanced around while she waited for it to boot up. Various esoteric artifacts packed every available inch of surface space: fearsome tribal masks, an assortment of ceremonial-looking daggers, what appeared to be a voodoo doll. A strand of wooden beads was wound around its body.

She shivered, and turned her attention back to the desk. Papers were still strewn over the top, as though Ellen had left in the middle of grading. A few framed photos sat in front of the computer monitor. Mostly she didn't recognize the faces in them; former students, most likely.

A couple, however, contained someone familiar: handsome, strong-boned face, long red hair, murky green eyes. Georgia's throat closed.

She'd never had the chance to tell Ellen what she'd meant to her. How highly she'd thought of her. Georgia mentally backtracked. No, that wasn't true. She'd had plenty of chances; she'd simply never taken any of them.

Wasn't that just the story of her life.

Tears pricked at her eyes. She turned the photo of Ellen face-down, and yanked open one of the desk drawers. She could barely see as she rummaged through the pens and bric-a-brac inside. Nothing of interest jumped out at her. She closed the drawer again, opened the one below it. Nothing in that one, either.

This was pointless. There was nothing here. Of course there wasn't
into the narrow crevice between the door and the wall, slide it down until she come to the bolt. She jimmied the plastic back and away. Something clicked. 

 This time when she tried the node, it plow smoothly. 

 Georgia smirked. What would Darius state if he could see her now? The moment the thought crossed her thinker, her chest of drawers hollowed. She ducked her head and opened the door. 

 A gust of breeze rushed out. The office smelled fusty and a little sweet; like incense and old books. merely underneath that was the faint aroma of lily - of - the - valley. Georgia quickly ducked inside, exclude the door behind her. The fading sun slanted through a single window on the opposite wall, providing just enough light to see by. 

 Georgia took a deep breath and headed for the desk. She sour on the computer, glanced approximately while she wait for it to boot up. Various esoteric artifacts throng every available inch of surface space: fearsome tribal masquerade, an assortment of ceremonial - looking daggers, what appeared to be a voodoo doll. A fibril of wooden beads was wound around its body. 

 She shivered, and twist her attention back to the desk. paper were still strewn over the top, as though Ellen had left in the middle of grade. A few framed photos sat in front of the calculator monitor. by and large she didn't recognize the faces in them; early students, about likely. 

 A couple, however, contained someone familiar: handsome, strong - boned expression, long crimson hair, cloudy green eyes. Georgia's throat closed. 

 She'd never have the chance to distinguish Ellen what she'd meant to her. How highly she'd thought of her. Georgia mentally backtracked. No, that wasn't true. She'd had plenty of chances; she'd simply never taken any of them. 

 Wasn't that merely the story of her life. 

 crying pricked at her eyes. She turned the photo of Ellen face - down, and yanked candid one of the desk drawers. She could barely see as she rummaged through the pens and bric - a - brac inside. Nothing of interest jump out at her. She close the drawer again, opened the one below it. Nothing in that one, either. 

 This was pointless. There was nothing here. Of course there wasn't
 inho the narrow crevice beuween the door anb the well, slis it dowv until she came to the bolt. Sye jinmied the plastic back and fortj. Somethung rlicked.

This time when shc trisf thz jnob, it turned smoothly.

Gaorgia smirked. Wfac would Darius say if he could see hqr now? Yhf instant the jhougne crkssed her mind, her chest hollowed. Ahe ducned her head snd opened the door.

A gust lf alr rushed out. The lffice smeloed iysty and a lkttle sweeu; nike incenae and old books. Just underneatf thac was the fqibt wtoma of lily-if-the-nalley. Georgia quicklf duckec inside, shut bhe dmor behind her. The fadinj sun slanted througr a singla cindow on the oppositw qall, kroviging husg ehongh light to see by.

Geodgia took a deep breath and hesdqe for the desi. She euwned on the computer, glanced around whine ahe waited for it to boit up. Various esoterif artifaces packed every available inch of surface space: faarsojd txlnal oqsns, an assortment of ceremonial-looking daggers, shst appeared to bc a voodoo doll. A xtgamq of wooden bgads was wkund around its bofy.

She sriverwd, and tuwned her attention back to the eesk. Papers cerw still strewn ovex the top, as thoogh Elken had left in the midble of grading. A vew frames photos sat in ffonn of the comkjter monitor. Mostjy she divn't rzcognize the faces in them; flrmer students, most likepy.

A clu[le, howeveg, contained someone familiar: haivsome, strong-bpnad xace, lony red mair, murky greeg eyes. Georgia'x throac closdd.

She'd nevvr had thx chance to eell Ellen whdj she'd meant vo her. Hor hithly she'd tfuught of her. Grorgia meuually backrracked. No, that waxn't frue. She'd had poenuy of chances; shr'd rim[lj nxver edken any of dhem.

Dasv'y thag just uke wgory of her life.

Tears prhckes at her eyes. She yuvned the khoto of Qllen face-dowm, and yanked open lne oh the vesk dtawgrs. She could barely see as she rummaged thvough the penf ane bric-a-brac nnside. Nothing of interest jumped out at her. She closed thw drawer again, opengd uhe one below it. Njthing in that one, either.

This was pointless. Thtre was nothing here. Of coursa thege wasn't
into the narrow crevice between the door wall, it down she came to plastic and forth. Something This time when tried the knob, it turned smoothly. smirked. What would Darius say if he could see her now? The instant thought crossed her mind, her chest hollowed. She ducked her head and opened door. gust air out. The office smelled musty and a little sweet; like incense and old books. Just underneath was the faint aroma of lily-of-the-valley. Georgia quickly inside, shut the door her. The fading sun slanted a window on opposite providing enough light to by. Georgia took a deep breath and headed for the desk. She turned on the computer, glanced while she it to up. esoteric packed every available surface space: fearsome tribal masks, an daggers, what appeared to be a voodoo doll. strand of beads was wound around its body. shivered, and turned her attention back to the Papers were still strewn over the top, as though Ellen had left in the middle A few framed photos in front of computer Mostly didn't the faces them; former students, most likely. A couple, however, contained someone familiar: strong-boned face, long red hair, murky green eyes. Georgia's throat never the chance to Ellen what she'd meant her. highly she'd thought of mentally No, She'd plenty chances; she'd simply never any of them. Wasn't that the story of her eyes. She turned the photo of Ellen face-down, yanked open one of the desk drawers. could barely see as she rummaged through the pens and bric-a-brac inside. of interest at her. She closed the drawer again, opened one below it. Nothing that one, either. This was pointless. There was nothing Of there wasn't
 into the narrow crevice betweEn the door aNd the WalL, slId It doWn unTil she came to thE Bolt. she jimmied the plastic baCk and FoRTh. SoMEtHing cLicked.

THIs TIMe wHeN sHe tRiED tHe knoB, it Turned sMoothly.

GeoRgiA sMirked. What woULd darius say iF he Could see her nOw? THe instAnT thE ThougHt cRosseD her miND, her chEst hollowEd. sHe duckED her heaD ANd OpenEd the door.

A gust of aIR rUShed out. The offiCe smelLeD MuSTY anD a lIttle sweet; LiKe incENse and oLD bOOKS. JuST underneath thAt was the faiNT arOma of lIlY-of-THe-vallEy. GeoRgIA quIckly ducked InsiDe, shut the Door beHInd her. THE fading Sun slaNteD thRougH A sInGle WiNDow ON tHe oPPosIte wall, pRoViDing jUst eNOUGH ligHt tO see By.

GeoRgia took a deep BreAth aND heAded fOr the Desk. shE turnEd on thE compUtEr, glanced around WhilE she waiteD foR iT to BoOt up. VARious eSotEriC artifaCts packED evErY AVAiLable inch of surface SpACE: fEarsome tRibal mASkS, aN AssortmeNt Of cEremONIal-loOkinG DaGgers, whaT appeaREd To Be a voodOo Doll. A sTrAnd Of wOoden BEads Was wouNd around Its boDY.

She shivered, anD Turned her atteNTiON BaCK to tHe dEsk. Papers weRe stILl stRewn OVeR thE Top, as ThougH ELLeN Had left in the middle oF gRading. a few fRamed photos saT in front of THE Computer MoniTOr. mOstly she didn't rEcognIze the faceS In them; foRmer sTudents, mOst likely.

a COuple, howEveR, coNtaIneD SOmEone familiar: hANDsomE, sTrong-boNed Face, lonG reD haIr, mUrkY gReen eyes. GEorgia's tHrOaT cLoSed.

she'd nEVer had thE cHanCe To tEll ElLEn what She'd mEant To HeR. how Highly sHE'd THOughT oF hEr. GeOrgIa MentaLly bACktRacked. NO, that wasn'T trUE. She'D hAd Plenty oF chances; she'd sImPly never taKeN anY of theM.

wAsn't that Just the story of her life.

TeARs prickEd aT her eYes. SHe turned tHe pHoto of ellEN face-dOwn, and YankeD oPen ONE of thE DEsK drAwErs. She coulD BAreLy see As She rUmmaged Through the pens and bRIc-a-Brac inside. NotHinG of iNTErEst JUmPEd oUt AT heR. sHe closed the drawEr again, opeNeD ThE one below iT. notHiNg in thaT one, eitHer.

ThIS was poiNtless. TheRe was nothInG herE. oF coUrse there wAsn't
 into the narrow crevice b etween the  door  an d t he  wal l, s lid it down un t il s he came to the bolt. S he ji mm i ed t h eplast ic back an d for th .Som et h in g cli cke d.

Thi s time whe n s he  tried the k n ob , it turne d s moothly.

Ge org ia smi rk ed. Whatwou ld Da rius s a y if h e could s ee her no w ? The i n s ta nt t he thought crosse d  h e r mind, her ch est ho ll o we d .  Sh e d ucked herhe ad an d  opened th e d oor . 

A gust of a ir rushed o u t.The of fi ces melled  must ya nda little sw eet;  like inc ense a n d old b o oks. Ju st und ern eat h th a twa s t he fai n taro m a o f lily-o f- th e-val ley. G e o rgia  qu ickl y duc ked inside, s hut  the doo r beh ind h er.Th e fad ing su n sla nt ed through a si ngle  window o n t he  op po sitew all, p rov idi ng just  enough lig ht t o  s ee by.

Georgia to ok a  d eep brea th and he ad e d for th edes k. S h e  turn ed o n  t he compu ter, g l an ce d aroun dwhilesh e w ait ed fo r  itto boo t up. Va rious esoteric artif a cts packed ev e ry a va i labl e i nch of surf aces pace : fe a rs ome triba l mas ks ,  a n  assortment of cere mo nial-l ookin g daggers, wh at appeare d t o be a v oodo o  d o ll. A strand o f woo den beadsw as wound  arou nd its b ody.

She s hivered,  an d t urn edh e rattention bac k to t he  desk.Pap ers wer e s til l s tre wn  over the  top, as  t ho ug hEll en ha d  left in  t hemi ddl e ofg rading . A f ew f ra me d  ph otos sa t  i n fron tof  the  co mp utermoni t or.  Mostly  she didn 'tr ecog ni ze  the fa ces in them;fo rmer stude nt s,most l i k ely.

Acouple, however, contai n ed some one  fami liar : handsom e,strong -bo n ed fac e, lon g red  h air , murky g re eney es. Georgi a ' s t hroat  c lose d.

She 'd never had the c h anc e to tell Ell enwhat s he 'dm ea n t t oh er. H ow highly she'd  thought o fh er . Georgiam ent al ly back tracked . No, that wa sn't true . She'd h ad  ple n t y o f chances;  she'd s imply nev e r tak e nany o f t hem.
Wa sn' t tha t just the  stor y of h er  life. 

Tea rs  pricked  at her eyes. She turne d thephoto  of  Ellen fa ce- d own , and yan kedopen one o f t hedeskdra w ers.Shec ou ldb arely  see as she ru m ma ged t hr ough the pe n s and  bric -a- b rac in side . Nothing of inte r est jumped out  ath e r.She clos ed  the drawer ag ain ,o p ened the  o ne below it . Nothin gi n tha t one,  eithe r.

Thi s wa s  point less . T here wasnot hi n g here.  O fc oursether ewasn't 
 into_the narrow_crevice between the door_and the_wall,_slid it_down_until she came_to the bolt._She jimmied the plastic_back and forth._Something_clicked.

This time when she tried the knob, it turned smoothly.

Georgia smirked. What would Darius_say_if he_could_see_her now? The instant the_thought crossed her mind, her_chest hollowed._She ducked her head and opened the door.

A_gust_of air rushed_out. The office smelled musty and a little sweet;_like incense and old books. Just_underneath that was_the_faint_aroma of lily-of-the-valley. Georgia_quickly ducked inside, shut the door_behind her. The fading sun slanted_through a single window on the opposite_wall, providing just enough light to_see by.

Georgia took a deep_breath and_headed for the desk. She_turned on the_computer, glanced_around while she_waited for it to boot up._Various esoteric artifacts_packed every available inch of surface_space:_fearsome tribal masks,_an_assortment_of ceremonial-looking_daggers, what appeared_to_be a_voodoo_doll. A strand of wooden beads_was_wound around its body.

She shivered, and turned_her attention back to_the_desk. Papers were still_strewn over the top, as_though Ellen had left in the_middle of_grading. A_few framed photos sat in front of the computer monitor. Mostly_she didn't recognize the faces in_them; former students, most_likely.

A couple,_however,_contained someone familiar:_handsome,_strong-boned face,_long red hair, murky green eyes. Georgia's_throat closed.

She'd_never had the chance to tell_Ellen what she'd meant_to_her. How highly she'd thought of_her. Georgia mentally backtracked. No, that_wasn't true. She'd had plenty_of_chances;_she'd simply never taken any_of them.

Wasn't that just the story_of her life.

Tears_pricked at her eyes. She turned the_photo_of Ellen face-down, and yanked open_one_of the desk drawers. She could_barely_see_as she rummaged through the_pens and bric-a-brac inside. Nothing of_interest jumped out at her. She closed the drawer_again, opened the_one below it. Nothing in_that_one,_either.

This was pointless. There was nothing here. Of course there_wasn't