It was one morning, but the next morning she wasn't there either. And the morning after that, by the fourth day, Marcus was doing something he hadn't done in years. He was distracted at work in a way he couldn't attribute to grief, couldn't chalk up to exhaustion, couldn't fold into the system and process and set aside. He was distracted because he was worried. and worry in Marcus' life had always been reserved for two categories, Amara and Amara's future. He had no framework for worrying about anyone else.
Dvu noticed on the second day, "Of course he did." The man had radar. "You eating?" Devou asked, setting a vending machine sandwich on Marcus' workbench without being asked. "I ate when?" Marcus checked his watch. It was 2 p.m. He had not in fact eaten. He picked up the sandwich.
There's this woman on my train," he said without preamble. Dearu sat down on the stool across from him. He did this the way a man settles in for a story he's been waiting a long time to hear slowly, deliberately with the full allocation of his attention. "Go on," he said. "She's been out for a few days.
I don't know why you got her number." "No, you know her last name." Marcus opened his mouth, stopped. "Carter." Emily Carter. She works in the building. Devou raised an eyebrow. She works in the building and you don't have her number.
We talk on the train. Dev, it's not like that. It's clearly like something or you wouldn't have said. There's this woman before you said good afternoon. Dearoo folded his arms.
You could look her up in the directory. That's weird. That's a weird thing to do. You're sitting here not eating at 2:00 in the afternoon because a woman you met on a train hasn't shown up for a few days. I'd argue weird is already here.
Marcus ate half the sandwich in silence. Then what if something's wrong? Something might be wrong. Dearu said with the particular honesty of a man who didn't believe in softening things unnecessarily. People disappear for reasons.
Could be good ones. Could be bad ones. That's not helpful. You didn't ask me to be helpful. You're just thinking out loud.
Dearu stood up. Look her up in the directory, Marcus. You'll feel better knowing she's okay. That's not weird. That's human.
He didn't look her up. But on the seventh morning, she was back. He heard her before he saw her. That particular energy she carried. Something between urgency and restraint.