ex

of bleach and the rhythmic, s

elt hollow, as if I had been sc

le

red-rimmed and swollen. She was holding

my throat feeling like i

voice brittle with suppressed rag

cou

h the silence in my womb a

ent plea for forgiveness. "I'm so so

terile white tile

't fee

lt l

, terrifyi

r binding me t

" I wh

cked, recoiling

er, my eyes burning but dry. "I want the divorce papers ready

bag. "I drafted them while you were in surgery. Cruelty, infide

want a prolonged battle. I just want it over.

ked into the conferen

still

forehead, stark whit

eled by a cocktail of painkille

at the head of the table

im, looking bored, c

said, not as an apology,

I said, sliding the file a

h them, raising a

he estate?" He looked susp

o the press. I tell them about the affair. I tell them about the twins. And I tell them how your

e blood drainin

, her boredom vanishing

You stripped me bare. I am dangerous now, Gavin.

oked int

e emptine

of the woman who

embling slightly, h

you leave town. I do

y," I said.

sig

pen sounded like a p

d the pa

on

ok t

t say g

ed to

venomous. "You're walking away with nothing. No hu

oor, my hand hover

d back

aid. "And trust me, Eliana... you ca

e, past the glass walls,

tor and pressed the

down, I felt a strange

n't ha

sn't

d, hard resolv

d my fla

orry you never saw the sun. But at le

oors

out into

on

ok

fr