Page 42 of Game Misconduct

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Eli: Quiet protector

Jace: Stoic, anchor of team.

Maddox: Volatile, magnetic.

My chest tightens, a pulse of something I don’t want to name.

I click to a blank slide, fingers hovering over the keys. Then I type.

Internal Risk Assessment – Sloane Carrington

Boundary slippage.

Emotional distraction.

Loss of control = unacceptable risk.

The cursor blinks at me, an accusation in a flashing vertical line.

I’m not supposed to be on the list.

I’m not supposed to be a variable.

But here I am, typing myself into the problem like I’m just another player who might crack under pressure.

My pulse jumps so hard I press a hand flat against my sternum.

Control masquerading as strategy. That’s all this is.

If I write it down, maybe it’ll stay in the box. You’re suppose to journal and all that, right? To get all of this out of your head?

Isn’t that what they say?

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