Demolition Before the Bloom

looked at Leo, who was staring up at her in awe.

Then, she looked at me.

Her eyes traced the dirt on my ruined dress.

She looked at the dark red stains on my collar.

She slowly raised a gloved hand.

Her cold leather fingers gently tilted my chin up.

She stared directly at the deep, open split in my forehead.

Her face didn’t change.

She didn’t gasp. She didn’t continue reading …