via

y was stri

ugh the house like a quiet storm, clearing everything in two hours. The

hite room now.

aring at the envelope Ms. Al

Dissolution

The ink flowed smooth and dark; it was

opened. Michael walke

here ar

re," I

terrible. His eyes were bloodshot, his hai

't notice the echo inside the empty house.

t is

he's sick. Really sick. It's an acute blood disorder. Leukemia

ar that," I said

g and swung arou

ou to get

ed. "Ex

e words tumbling out. "I remember from your medical

want me to undergo a surgical

bulging in his neck. "She's my friend! She'

m the kitchen. She had come over to

d steel. "She is recovering from a concussion. And s

flinch at the word 'pregnant.' He

sign whatever post-nup you want. I will b

ng. Not for

an who had promised to love

question

desperate ho

y voice barely a whisper. "If we were both dying, a

n the mantel ticked loudly, marki

t even h

. "I have to save her.

d sudden, but it was followed

it. Finall

. It was the brittle smile of som

," I

he asked

do the

my mothe

a hand to

for him. I wasn't

walked away, I had given him everything. I had given

would leave wit

be left wit

t, burying his face in m

ir. I looked out the

alread