Sabbatical

Toni had a plan for the summer: rest, relaxation, and renovation. In the summer before her sabbatical year, all she wanted was to disentangle herself from her job. No work emails. Not departmental or university politics. No Dr. Antonia Ward.

But during the last week of classes, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Dr. Mike Hernandez. The colleague she's known for years and never once thought twice about, suddenly seems taller, his voice seems deeper, and every time they...