Walla

oughts and fleeting images. I drifted in and out of consciousness, and each time I sur

up side by side, our childhoods intertwined, our families sharing summer vacations and holiday dinners. He was the quiet, compassi

e morning sun. We were each other's entire world. Of course, we had our silly arguments, our dramatic "breakups" over trivial things, as young lovers do. On

ke it off, convinced I needed to "find myself" away from his shadow. I left for Europe, eager to

to love, how to nurture a relationship, how to value intimacy. All the lessons I'd learned, sometimes painfully, from my time with Elliot, I poured into Jake. The

y, standing by my side, a stoic witness to my new beginning. He' d given me a lavish dowry, a gesture of his en

ttle

iar. It resonated deep within my so

Don't leave me again." His hand, warm and gentle, stroked my hair

as a blurry white. A sterile white. Not the dark, damp

ith worry, his hand clasping mine. His

ht fresh tears to my bandaged eyes, wa

nd, then turned frantically. "Nurse! Doctor! She's awake!" He pulled out his wallet, a thick

ssuming parents. My mother's face, usually so serene, was a

ed to my bedside, tears streaming down her

otectiveness. "My darling, you gave us quite a scare." He s

e trembling. "Three long days and nights you've been un

e will pay dearly. He thought he was playing a game with a little wellness retreat. He hasn't seen what

in sensible suits, always speaking in measured tones. He had always presented himself as a comfort

y. He didn't realize that every 'investment' he made in your little wellness retreat, every expansion, every profitable venture, was actually being strategically g

e moving all of us abroad. You will never have to see that monster again." He stroked my hair, his touch infinite

ar wall caught my attention. A news channel was on,

infant child at the hands of the retreat owner, Audrey Wallace. Ms. Floyd stated that her child may suffer perman

eks as she cradled a bandaged infant. "My poor baby," she sobbed, "she's so inn

t it was a laugh nonetheless. Scarred forever? I thought. She used acid on her own c

y audible through my stitched mouth. "I appreciate your plan. But before we go... I have a few things