I’m going to tell her. Ever said the phrase again to himself for what felt like the hundredth time as made the familiar commute to work. He’d only noticed the last few weeks that he would start his walk outside the cemetery lost in thought only to realize that he was already at Pagoto’s, almost as if he fell into a portal that dropped him on Lygon Street. Was this a normal human experience?

  I’m going to tell her. He was tempted then and there to reveal himself in front of Taylor. You don’t want to do that, his mentor had advised him quite sternly. She had stood outside the iron gates for only a few minutes more before turning on her heel and trudging back into town. Why had she come to find him? Was this the real reason for her sudden change in demeanor towards him? It had to be. Maybe she wasn’t going to study overseas at all.

  *I’m going to tell her.*

  What are you going to tell her exactly? Death questioned.

  Ever stopped in his tracks. From here, he could just make out Pagoto’s. To think that he had just stumbled across it on his first day and met Taylor. What if he had walked into another restaurant along Lygon Street? Who would he be?

  *I…* he let the thought trail off. *I’m going to tell her that I am your apprentice.*

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  And then what?

  *She’ll know what I am and she’ll be back to normal.*

  Death sighed. Don’t be so sure, young soul. He abruptly withdrew from his protege’s mind.

  Ever resumed walking, promptly arriving at the front of the store. He pulled the keys out of his pocket and spun them on his index finger. Taylor did it every day without fail. When he asked her why she did it, she just shrugged. Old habits, die hard. He made her habit his own.

  He came in and closed the door. Usually, he would fall into the opening routine straight away, letting the well-practiced order of actions lead his body. But today, he decided to take down one of the seats on the tables and sit on it. The sun was already quite high in the sky, but not high enough that it illuminated the ice cream shop. He inhaled and held his breath.

  Taylor would be in at any moment and he was going to tell her. How would the conversation go? Why are you lying? She might say, except she wouldn’t say that, because he was telling the truth, and she always knew when he was telling the truth. So what would happen when he told her this truth?

  He exhaled, stood up and started getting to work. The other two would be here soon, better not look like he was slouching. He went through the motions, pulling the tubs out from the freezer under the display, turning on the lights and the sound system and putting down the rest of the chairs. He kept glancing at the door.

  I’m going to tell her.