Chapter 2

The state fair. Leo had always dreamed of it.

The lights, the rides, the sticky sweetness of cotton candy he'd only seen on TV.

Sarah walked through the noisy crowds, a ghost among the living, Leo's urn clutched tight.

She bought a single, bright blue cotton candy, Leo's favorite color.

She held it for a moment, then let it fall to the ground, untouched.

On a bench, away from the laughter, she pulled out her cheap phone.

A local news clip popped up. Michael Johnson, "local businessman," beaming beside the mayor.

They were cutting a ribbon for a new community playground.

Heavily featuring BMX ramps. Custom-built.

Her phone buzzed. Mike.

"Sarah! Baby, you won't believe it! The Scorpions, they just... backed off! Some internal beef, I don't know. But I'm clear! I'm coming home!"

His voice was full of fake relief.

"Oh," Sarah said, her voice flat.

"Just 'oh'? Aren't you happy? I'm safe!"

"I'm at the state fair," she said.

"The fair? What for? Never mind, I'll be there soon. We need to celebrate!"

He hung up before she could say more.

Later, he showed up at her dilapidated apartment.

He was dressed down, jeans and a t-shirt, but he looked out of place, uncomfortable in the poverty he'd left her in.

He tried to hug her. She didn't move.

"I missed you so much," he said, his eyes searching hers for a reaction.

He pulled out a small, cheap-looking bag. "Got you something."

A dress. Polyester. A style Tiffany might have discarded.

"It's... nice," she lied.

"Put it on. We're going out. Big news."

He looked around the tiny, bare room. "Where's Leo? Still at Head Start? We should pick him up. I want to take him for ice cream, tell him his old man is back."

Sarah looked at him, her face a mask.

"Leo isn't at Head Start, Mike."

"Oh? Where is he then? With a friend?"

"He's somewhere he can't be picked up from."