ex

g heavily over my flat stomach, feeling like

it should have

ve been the

ther shackle binding

ded t

ly certain before I did

rove to the office again

go up t

s the street, the one where Gavin l

at 10:30, t

and

t something he said, her head thrown ba

d like a p

ike they belo

ulling my hat low, praying my sunglass

high-pitched whine that grated on my nerves. "When is she l

afting the papers as we speak. I just need to make sure she doesn

es to use the tw

onestly, Eliana, she was just a vessel. A glorified babysitter.

e gets pregnant

art s

n la

sides, even if she did, do you think I'd wan

sti

ss

o

ed themselves

ee me as a

nce he had rented unti

roat. I turned and w

t confr

oint in scream

my abdomen, a phantom

raight to

omen with their own stories, feeling utterly alone

y name, I stood up

ing a child i

n use another innoc

my child alongside the twi

pointment for

calle

said, my vo

rs. File for d

ria asked gently. "We ca

er off. "I just want out. I want

one b

Gavin c

een for a long mome

e breezy. "Just checking

," I

going to be late to

round, I hea

child's

addy! Push

s Ken

n't at

s at

y Elian

ng project," I said, ice dr

, I transferred some more money to your account. Buy your

ed your mon

lex. Don't be difficult.

," I re

k, I have to

d out of his m

, Gavin,

ung

ay "I love

say those word

c, the appointment card b

hatting in hushed to

unlap CEO? Spotted with that model again

said, shaking her head. "She

ped wa

hallway, people rushing past

the poo

't the

anym

, the smell of antis

to burn hi

ically s

to survive the fi