NOTE* This is the first upload of two coming today (4-19-25)...
Nine months before Safi dies.
A book.
Safi was meeting with Gwen about a book she was writing.
Maybe it was the combination of his body being in constant isolation and the fact that most of his time was spent outside of said body that caused his abilities to expand. Mark was at a point now where he could hang back in a person's psyche and observe rather than directly engage.
This new skill was useful for Gwen's meetings with Safi because he didn't know what to even begin talking about. The first few meetings he'd stepped in on had halted because he couldn't carry the conversation, but now he could hear the full subjects. If Mark let Safi's people talk to her something was bound to come out.
And it looked to be paying off. He felt a pang of unease move over Gwen, feeling a vessel's emotions were also new. "Are you sure you want to do this? This book might be the nail in the coffin with you and your mother."
Safi crossed her arms and huffed. "So what? I finally feel alive again! These poems are my truth. I thought you of all people would back me up." It was a thinly veiled guilt on Safi's part that called on Gwen's transgender identity with the hopes of manipulating her.
Mark could feel Gwen's surprisingly minor annoyance. "Listen, I hate what happened to Maya too but…"
"But what? Lucas needs to pay one way or another! I don't use any names. Only those who know will get it. I can't compromise my entire sense of self anymore." Safi roared. Even Mark resonated with that.
Maybe his own feelings mixed in when Gwen said. "You know what? Fuck it! Us girls gotta stick together. Let's do this." The two linked hands in a victorious motion of solidarity. "I'll start hounding some publishers!" Gwen winked and Safi all but pranced out the door when she opened it and exited the office.
Whoa. Who was Maya and what did Lucas have to do with her? That was finally some news to give Sean, Mark's food rations were getting smaller due to the lack of it.
He'd make some time to read Safi's draft- but he looked at the clock- Yasmin was scheduled to return from Boston today.
But the draft is right in front of me… He should read it now.
Fuck it. He had all the time in the world.
He went back to Vinh and watched the entrance hallway from his desk with such intensity that anyone walking by thought he was glaring at them. He started twirling a pen anxiously.
Nearly an hour went by before Yasmin actually arrived. He pretended to type as she walked over to him. He'd only suggested where to go, what to look for, not who to pick. He couldn't have Vinh taking the credit for her arrival.
"So how did it go?" He managed to say coolly.
"Excellent, I've chosen an artist. I'll need you to type an offer letter and send it over immediately" Yasmin put a folded piece of paper onto the desk for him.
He clutched it but didn't look just yet. "It sounds like someone made quite the impression on you."
Yasmin was star eyed as she pulled a print from her bag to show him. It was an abandoned house with a closet full of shoes.
Yasmin rallied. "This just has so many layers of meaning to me. Her presentation had me enthralled!"
He didn't even need to open the paper with the contact information. He was certain of what it said as he began to type the letter.
"Dear Maxine Caulfield"