“I think,” Hoa says slowly, “that if you love someone, you don’t get to choose how they love you back.”

Buildings marked with a green X are known to be safe. A yellow X means damage that could spell a collapse, especially if another major shake hits the city. Red-marked buildings are noticeably damaged and dangerous, though you see signs that they were inhabited, too, perhaps by those willing to take any shelter rather than be ashed out.

“Occasionally,” she says. Her face is expressionless, but there is something in her voice that troubles me. “Follow me.”

fulcrum,

inchoate

intransigent,

rictus

caldera.

quiescence