I hadn’t seen my older brother Mark since his marriage fell apart and he went to live in New Zealand a few years earlier. We had never really been c...ose, so I was surprised when he called to ask if he could stay at our house for a few days while he came home to finalise his divorce. Despite it not being the best time for us with work and all, I couldn’t really say no, and besides, since he had never met Natasha, it would be a good way for him to finally get to know my wife.As I had to be in. I could only imagine how he’d feel if Gowri told him that she caught me looking at her in a sexually inappropriate way. “I’m really sorry, Gowri, please forgive me,” I replied, looking at her face only.“Okay, apology accepted. Thank you for understanding,” she replied. Just then I felt my phone vibrate. It was Kavita. It was a brief message saying “Manu, darling, I’ll be done soon.” No smiley face, no heart emojis. Just a plain old message. I indicated to Gowri that I should get going. She told. ” “Leah, we are not about to sit here and spend our lunch talking about sex.” She laughed.“You mad cause you aint getting it, I plan to ride somebody before I leave Atlanta.” She said looking around the restaurant. “Bitch, you be careful…. you know it ain’t called ‘Hotlanta’ for nothing.” I said laughing and tilting my head to the side. After lunch, I went back to work and found myself sitting in the office, staring out the 10th floor window. Looking down below, I watched people come in and out. Those that had been born high-elf watched knowingly, remembering when they fell. I had known most of them personally, and had loved a few. But I had failed them all, for they were in this place of impermanence. I would not fail again. I could not. Yavara’s astral voice rang out through the void, a melody of ecstasy rising from her throat. I knew Alkandi was getting close. Yavara had held out longer than any of the other high-elf incarnations had, but Alkandi always got them in the end. Give in,.