“Maisley knows the routine by now. Three years this time, she violated her parole. Every officer, every other inmate, said she would be back. They are trembling and staring and whispering, almost giddy to see her.”
Community
“We've made it to our beautiful and scenic rooftop. Here you have a full view of the city on all sides. Ignore the construction, and sorry if it feels like I'm screaming. To your left, you can see the cityscape… I actually don't know what they're building down there. I think it used to be a residential lot, but I'm not sure— Oh, you're right! There are still some houses down there, so I guess it was. I guess they were abandoned hou— They're turning it into a Whole Foods, actually. Yes! I know a lot of our customers are excited about that.”
Metempsychosis
Azura's Path (Excerpt)
“We were all one. As much a part of the one that created us as we were to each other. We shared thoughts, memories, feelings, and work. We were formless. We merged together and into one another freely. Our bodies could take one another in and reshape themselves with this same ease. Yet we were trapped in our spirits. Trapped in the Fortress. We lacked names, edges, and faces. Our entire identity came from togetherness, and the animals the Lord shaped us into. All of us fell into the one that had created us, and our reality fell into place around us.”
I Can See Your Voice (Excerpt)
“Rotimi doesn’t just read minds; he feels them. So, when the kid stumbles out of the theater crying later, he’ll suffer that same heavy sadness. When the new employees shake his hand, he’ll be drenched in that same nervousness, viewing himself as a scary executive. He’s a sponge. Soaking up every single thing until he’s sour.”
Float (Excerpt)
“You left no note, no final requests, or declarations. No reasons why. No goodbyes. No I love yous. You just went back to your mother, and let her envelop you. To take you where we are all from. I choose to believe that it was peaceful and painless, even though I know better. What the fuck else can I do?”