For two days, Jessa vanished from her usual spot. Nina checked the shelter. A worker shrugged. “She has been warned to stop telling wild stories about the homes. We cannot encourage that. It upsets other residents. If she keeps going, she might not be a good fit for the dorm.” Services, Nina realized, could be a leash.
On the third day, she found Jessa sitting under an awning, her bedroll at her feet. “They told me I am disturbing people,” Jessa said. “They said I am fixated on old files and that it is bad for my health.” She laughed once. “Funny, how caring they become.” Nina sat beside her. “We can still move quietly,” she said.