Chapter 54
POV: Damian Knight
I never thought I'd miss a broken elevator.
The motel elevator actually worked.
That was the problem.
It glided quietly to the second floor every morning without groaning, without stopping halfway, without Mr. Jenkins smacking the control panel and declaring, "Technology fears confidence."
Apartment 3B's elevator had personality.
This one had efficiency.
I preferred the annoying one.
That realization followed me through breakfast.
The motel served toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee that tasted like it had apologized for existing.
The woman at the front desk noticed me staring into the cup.
"You look disappointed."
"It reminds me of someone."
"Coffee?"
"No."
She nodded wisely.
"Worse."
I couldn't even argue.
Work ended earlier than usual that
