Mona had said three words at the corner table and now she said them everywhere.
Not the words. The choosing.
She had worked out that she was allowed to want a spot and hold it.
The first spot she wanted after the table was the floor by Soren's side of the bed.
It was the warm stretch the heater vent reached and she took it the second night without asking anyone.
Maren noticed before Soren did.
◆◆◆◆
Maren had her own housing across the green and she had always hated the walk.
She made it anyway most nights.
She came to the dorm because the dorm was where the frequency sat and the fox wanted to be near it.
Maren had stopped pretending she did not want the same thing a long time ago.
She had earned her place at his side.
She fought for it every night.
She walked across the cold green on legs that ached to be near him. She owned this space.
She walked in and saw the mole girl sitting in her spot. Right by his bed.
Maren's ears went stiff.
They locked forward.
