The auto shutters opened long ago, but I never went to sleep, and the sunlight means nothing to me. Mom is dead. She's been gone for weeks and we never knew it. Does Dad know? Supreme Moon? If the Great Supreme knows, does he even care? I have one consolation—she believed in God before she died. I hope—I must believe—that I will see her again in Heaven. At some point the HELP comp chimes, so I crawl from bed and make my way to it. Brunch today. Guard Nev will escort you. S. They won't let me have a single day off. It must be a strategy, on their part. If they keep me busy, then I won't be able to get into any trouble on my own. It takes an hour to make me feel human again, and then I make my way down to meet Guard Nev. He greets me at the bottom of the stairs. He's not his usual, distant self today. He almost treats me like an egg that might crack. I don't know if I like it or hate it, so I don't think about it. The transporter takes us across the city to the Mansion. “Good morning,”
