The Trap

by Catherine Ryan Howard

quay

biceps straining under the T-shirts they evidently couldn’t find in their size,

“We have to work harder than the lads to pass it,” Denise said. “Which in a way is fitting, considering it’s supposed to prep you for being on the job, and that’s what you’ll have to do the entire time you’re here: work much, much harder than they ever do, just to be treated as something approaching their equal. If you’re lucky.”

contravention.

A hard look fell over his face like a guillotine.

An overwhelming tiredness settled on Lucy’s shoulders like a heavy blanket, enveloping her. She was empty, drained, depleted to the point where she had nothing left. She had lived this life as many days as she could manage. She had been eaten away by guilt. She had done everything she could to try to get the answers. To stop wanting them in the first place. To pretend she could work around the gaping hole her questions had left in the middle of her life.

we don’t bring noise from out there in here.”

hessian