It didn’t matter what Mother was wearing. The insides didn’t coil over mantles and coverings. It was her, her essence, her presence. She didn’t look towards the open space even once, but she paused for an instant just outside the door and leaned her head to the side. I worried she could somehow sense my presence, but she continued walking, nodding to the soldier guarding the tunnel as she passed her. I stayed where I was for a few units to make sure Mother was really gone. After all, she’d fooled me with a fake departure before.

Nobody was coming down the tunnels. It was during a school block, and work was still limited, so most people were in school or in their dwellings. I hadn’t been sure there would still be soldiers guarding the tunnels since they’d...

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