James Gullickson
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Then he looked up at his family.
Audra's smile hadn't moved.
Fixed in place.
A half second passed where it should have shifted.
His mother's eyes were bright in a way that wasn't quite joy.
Armin had set his phone down and was watching with an attention that didn't match the moment.
His father was nodding slowly.
He looked back at what he was holding.
A gun, small and black, heavy in his palm.
He looked at his family.
They were still smiling, still watching, still waiting for the trick to be completed.
No one reacted to the gun.
No one screamed, no one moved, no one did anything at all.
They just sat there, looking at him with bright, expectant eyes.
"'Now, Uncle Will,' Lily said, "'make yourself disappear.'
Will looked at his father.
Arnold was nodding slowly, encouragingly, like this was all part of the show.
Like this was what was supposed to happen.
He looked at his mother.
She was clapping softly, her eyes bright with tears.