{Gait}

  The Nice Man gave 324 hope. They knew it was a man by the blows. Women stung. Men bruised. Women lost their temper. Men got off. Both broke things. But not the Nice Man.

  He led them upstairs into a zone. Another empty black space with the quantum resonance of agony and loss. 324 went without tears, without sagging and dragging. He would hurt 324 like all the others. But unlike those abusers, he would first lean into them and whisper…

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  “Another will help.”

  Always a message. This one stirred more than hope. 324 clenched their fists and grit their teeth. Not to fortify against the pain. But to fan the flames of determination. The fight slowly restored to them.

  Soon.

  Survive the next six hours. And the next six after that. Eat. Sleep. Prepare. They’d reunite with their family. Soon.

  Thanks to the Nice Man.