Shatter-Me-PDF-Shatter-Me-Series-Shatter-Me-Shatter-Me-1-Tahereh-Mafi (1)

Chapter Twenty-One
Killing time isn’t as difficult as it sounds.
I can shoot a hundred numbers through the chest and
watch them bleed decimal points in the palm of my hand. I
can rip the numbers off a clock and watch the hour hand
tick tick tick its final tock just before I fall asleep. I can
suffocate seconds just by holding my breath. I’ve been
murdering minutes for hours and no one seems to mind.
It’s been one week since I’ve spoken a word to Adam.
I turned to him once. Opened my mouth just once but
never had a chance to say anything before Warner
intercepted me. “You are not allowed to speak to the
soldiers,” he said. “If you have questions, you can find me. I
am the only person you need to concern yourself with while
you’re here.”
Possessive is not a strong enough word for Warner.
He escorts me everywhere. Talks to me too much. My
schedule consists of meetings with Warner and eating with
Warner and listening to Warner. If he is busy, I am sent to
my room. If he is free, he finds me. He tells me about the
books they’ve destroyed. The artifacts they’re preparing to
burn. The ideas he has for a new world and how I’ll be a
great help to him just as soon as I’m ready. Just as soon as I
realize how much I want this, how much I want him, how
much I want this new, glorious, powerful life. He is waiting
for me to harness my potential. He tells me how grateful I
should be for his patience. His kindness. His willingness to
understand that this transition must be difficult.
I cannot look at Adam. I cannot speak to him. He sleeps in
my room but I never see him. He breathes so close to my
body but does not part his lips in my direction. He does not