“That last one is just me. Georgians would want me to clarify that it’s actually a very nice state where people usually don’t get kidnapped.”

“It doesn’t sound great. Though…” She trailed off, her gaze distant.

“What?”

“Dad used to talk about the ocean. He had family in south Texas—what’s that area called? Rio something?”

“The Rio Grande Valley?”

“That’s the one. He’d go down there and see them and they’d go to the beach. I’ve always wanted to see the beach.”

“It’s nice,” he said softly. “Maybe you will, one day.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

He took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking, trying not to sound rude. “Does it feel small in here? Do you feel trapped?”

“No. Not usually. Sometimes, if I think about it….” She glanced at him. “My mom, she was British.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. She was in Austin visiting friends when it all went down.”

“Christ, that sucks.”

“Yeah. And I can’t really, like…conceive of that distance. Between the US and the UK. Or even imagine what a whole other country would look like. My dad’s parents were from Mexico, and he only went there a couple times, but I can’t really understand that, either. Even though there was no ocean involved with them, I can’t imagine traveling that distance. This”—she gestured around them—“felt nearly insurmountable.” She shook her head. “That probably didn’t make sense. I think I mean that I don’t really feel trapped unless I think about it too hard. It must have been much harder for my parents. And everyone else who remembers life before the wall.”

He nodded.

“I do actually understand why you’re so desperate to get out of here,” she said. “I know that it must feel much smaller for you than it does for me.”

“It’s not that,” he said. She shot him a look. “I mean, yes, it does feel small, but it’s more about my life outside the walls. My family and my friends. I was going to go back to school next year.” As he said it, he realized that he wasn’t going back to the same life he’d left. His dad had won the election. He was going back to a new world of secret service protection and politics and he was actually going to get to, like, hang out in the White House. It was both exciting and terrifying.

“What’s this expression?” she asked with a laugh. “You look freaked out suddenly.”

“I was just realizing how different things will be when I get back. We’re going to be moving to the White House. Stella must be losing it.”

“Your sister?”

“Yeah. She’s super into history and old buildings. Getting to live in the White House is her dream come true.”

“But it’s not yours?”

“It’s cool, I guess, but I think that both Stella and Caroline are better suited for that life. Caroline will probably be thrilled to help Mom with all the holiday decorating and picking china or whatever. I’ll just…”