Read Chapter 26: — BREAKING POINT

Maya broke first.

Not because of danger. Because of a phone call.

A woman in her seventies had been isolating alone after her husband was admitted to hospital. Every day Maya called her at nine. One morning there was no answer.

The woman had died in her sleep.

Nothing about the death was violent. That made it worse.

Maya came home, removed her coat, washed her hands and sat on the kitchen floor.

"I spoke to her yesterday."

Ethan sat two metres away at first out of habit, then hated the distance and moved beside her.

"She told me about her wedding. She said her husband hated dancing and stepped on her dress. She was laughing. Yesterday she was laughing."

Ethan held her.

"I don't want to do this tomorrow."

"Then don't."

"What if somebody needs me?"

"Somebody will. That doesn't mean it has to be you every day."

Maya cried until she was empty.

The next morning she did not volunteer.

She slept until noon, watched a stupid comedy, ate toast in bed and called her mother.

The day after, she went back.

Not because fear had gone.

Because it no longer got the vote.