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After I got the flat back, I didn't move in straight away.

First: I cleared it entirely.

The ornaments chosen to match Harper's taste — all of it went.

The bedroom: new bed, new mattress.

Curtains, sofa covers, door locks, all changed.

The gardenia on the balcony, I gave to the security guard on the ground floor.

She laughed and took it.

"A flower this lovely — you're sure you don't want it?"

"Old scent," I said. "Brings bad luck."

She liked that.

"Old out, new in."

I didn't know then that those words would come true.