AUTHOR’S NOTE: This novella was adapted from a short story originally published under a different title as part of an anthology. For any previous readers, please forgive the literary license takenas to time, place, and additional characters.

“How do the birds make great sky circles … They fall and falling they are given wings.” -Jalal Rumi

The day Jake Toronto triggered the downfall of a cable TV network, I was in my office thinking about my upcoming vacation. My suitcase, already packed for the beach, sat in the comer. An image of my wife Marcia in her bikini floated in and out of my mind. Nicole worked on her computer in the office next to mine. I was busy tending to some last minute paperwork that included shuffling through a stack of soon-to be-due bills at the moment to determine who, beside myself,was most in need of getting paid. Toronto’s text pinged my mobile. I barely noticed and didn’t even bother giving it a look. ( )