Shutdown (Glitch)

couldn’t take back the blood, and I couldn’t give life back to the dead, but I could do everything possible to make sure another D-Day never happened. As much blood as had been spilled, no nuclear weapons had been fired in the worldwide revolution. I intended it to stay that way.
    “Hey,” Adrien said gently, reaching over and taking my hand. He had an uncanny ability to know what I was thinking about, especially when dark moods struck. “It’s okay. Let’s just think about all the good we’ll do today. Only today matters, not yesterday, not tomorrow.”
    I looked over at Adrien. We were taking things slowly as well, but I didn’t mind. As long as he was by my side. His logical mind had become invaluable as I tried to solve problems and mediate disputes.
    He was different from the boy I’d first known. But every day I got to know the new him more and more. And I thought maybe, just maybe, he was starting to completely believe me when I told him I loved him. His hand lazily held mine, rubbing gentle circles with his thumb. The touch sent a warm tingling sensation all the way down to my toes. I closed my eyes for a moment and focused only on it. No yesterday. No tomorrow. Just now, this moment.
    “Oh, look—it’s time,” Adrien said, his chair squeaking as he pushed it back and stood up. I opened my eyes and couldn’t help but smile. The sun broke over the horizon, splaying warm pinks and oranges across the ocean.
    I stood at Adrien’s side. It was our ritual, whenever we could manage it, to watch the sunrise together. I reached for his hand and interwove my fingers with his.
    There was so much left to do, and the future was still uncertain. Not even Adrien could see how this would all work out. He told me that he didn’t want to know. He avoided touching Markan at all costs.
    I glanced up at Adrien. He had changed, it was true. But his gentleness had never left. He’d been strong enough to rediscover his humanity and hold on to it in spite of everything. It was his idea to watch the sunrise together each morning.
    “I love you.” I turned to look at him. “Do you believe me yet?”
    His eyes were lit brilliantly by the light. He didn’t waver from my gaze.
    “I do.” He dropped his lips to mine.
    As we kissed, the sun rose and bathed the earth in light.

 
    ALSO BY HEATHER ANASTASIU
    Glitch
    Override

 
    About the Author

    HEATHER ANASTASIU grew up in Texas and now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband and young son. She spends most days writing at a coffee shop or daydreaming about getting a new tattoo.

 
    This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
    SHUTDOWN. Copyright © 2013 by Heather Anastasiu. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
    www.stmartins.com
    Cover design by Ervin Serrano
    Cover photographs by Shutterstock.com
    The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
    Anastasiu, Heather.
        Shutdown / Heather Anastasiu.—1st ed.
                p. cm.
        ISBN 978-1-250-00301-0 (pbk.)
        ISBN 978-1-250-02235-6 (e-book)
        [1.  Individuality—Fiction.   2.  Emotions—Fiction.   3.  Thought and thinking—Fiction.   4.  Psychic ability—Fiction.   5.  Government, Resistance to—Fiction.   6.  Science fiction.]   I.  Title.
        PZ7.A51852Shu 2013
        [Fic]—dc23
    2013003055
    e-ISBN 9781250022356
    First Edition: July 2013