Phillp’s thoughts were interrupted by his door chiming. The only thing he knew for certain was that he wanted to be alone, so he did not answer it. The door chimed again. Over the intercom he heard Ajda say, “Philip, I know you’re in there. Let me in.” After a pause she continued, “I still know your door code.”

Even though Philip had changed his code after they had gone their separate ways, he told the door to open.

Ajda entered and bounced up behind Philip. He did not turn to see her. “I knew you would be here to watch the …” Her sentence trailed off. No one had thought of a term for what was about to happen.

Philip offered his term. “The murder of twelve billion innocents?”

Ajda replied with the party line, pausing between each word, “This is not murder.”

Philip turned on her and the anger in his voice surprised even him. “How? How is this not murder?”

(to be continued)