No knocking, Felix Shaw turned the doorknob directly. The door was locked from the inside and wouldn't twist open, so he gently patted the door, speaking up, "Mia, I know you're inside."
There was no response. Mia Foster sat at her desk, dealing with some files that weren't urgent at all.
Felix knocked on the door again, "Mia, Mom... asked me to pick you up and take you home..."
The only answer to him was still silence. After knocking for a while, Felix took out a pack of cigarettes, leaned against the wall, and lit one for himself. The curling smoke fogged his sight, and without realizing it, he had smoked nearly the entire pack in his pocket. Glancing at the pile of butts by his feet, Felix turned around and left quietly.
It was only after the sound of footsteps in the hallway disappeared that Mia Foster stopped her work, tilted her head back, took a deep breath, and after sitting for a while, she organized the files and stood up to leave the office.
