Alexei Dettman

Compensation

Compensation. That’s what they’d called it. He’d thought of a thousand other overly dramatic and bitter names for what they had offered him. ‘Blood money’ was his favourite, and there was a wince anytime from others anytime he used the phrase. People did love to use empty platitudes and words of consolation whenever a tragedy occurred, but never did have anything to say if you responded with anything other than a quiet, dignified acceptance.