“I wasn’t ready.”

“Ready for what?”  The enforcement was stern with his questions, simple and to the point.  He was certainly not trying to make small talk.

“To be paired.  I freaked out a little.  I needed to see what a Single’s life was like.”  Braiden’s responses flowed out of his mouth with such fluidity.

“And you thought the best option was to run away to find your answer?  We would have granted you access.”

Braiden made no reply, and instead remained eerily quiet.

“Well, what did you find, Mr. Connor?  That the Sweeper life isn’t a desirable one?  That one is much better off following our rules and regulations?”

“A Sweeper’s life is not what I want.”

Although he was saying everything I’d always wanted him to say, something about it was off. He responses seemed so rehearsed.

“I wasn’t thinking clearly.  I’m sorry for any trouble I caused.  It won’t happen again.”

“It better not.  You’ve been assigned to this district, and you have been paired with Krissa.  You’ll be on probation for the next year, which means one slip up and you’ll be in the Sweeper unit permanently, or worse.  Understood?”

“Yes Sir.”  This time he wasn’t mocking the officer.  He looked ashamed.

“Krissa, do you agree to these terms?”  Did I really have another option?  If I didn’t agree, I could end up single, but would a life with Braiden make me happy?  Yes, I still loved him, but how was I to let him ease back into my life after all the hurt he caused?

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