She counted the doors before she counted

the exits.

That was the only lesson that stayed.

They took everything. So I took everything back.

You had a choice. You made it. Now I make mine.

I don’t lie. I just don’t tell you the parts that would keep you up at night.

Miovs is what remained after the fall —

islands set adrift, held together by portals

the Directorate counts and licenses and fears.

Malum does not ask before it takes a piece of you.

Freedom, if it comes,

will not look like escape.

It will look like staying —

and choosing it herself.