The kettle starts to rumble, and it probably won't take much longer before it's boiling, but what Greta says feels pressing enough that I can't just finish making the tea without sitting by her and getting the whole truth out first.

People here know her story. All of it. It's actually not too much of a surprise to hear, considering she told me about this guy, Jack, who sounded like he was from the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. And even though I don't know anyone personally who falls into this category, I have read enough about the city that I know that sometimes people's lives are fictional in other people's worlds.

Like it's completely possible for someone from Melrose Place to make their way to the city. Not just the actors, but the actual characters brought to life.

But now that I actually have someone I know who is affected by this, I can't help but wonder how I would feel if my whole life was just a story to someone else. It would be... unnerving. (I would probably ask for the story's ending right away.)

"Wait, when you say they know your story, you mean... everything about your life?" I ask, just to be sure.