ds let go of me, and I stumble,

lost everything in the mos

myself out loud. "I will ma

my mind, growing louder and ang

st time. They thought they could cast me as

ain. Before I can catch my breath, my vision blurs, and a wave of dizziness crashes over me. I try to stead

nt medical equipment beeping. My body feels heavy,

calm, unfamiliar voice says

right lights, the crisp white sheets and the soft hum of machines. I try

I croak, my throa

"They said you collapsed outside the building they had just moved into. You had traces

, "You will be fine in a couple of hours. Is there anyone we can call to

with my other hand. She notices the word husband

more than an inconvenience, he had finally tossed aside. And then Hannah...her belly round, her smug smile, the way she looked

red stories, and even confided in her when things g

eemed to have been crafted by some meticulous artist. Her hair, black

about it felt off. But she was so convincing, soothing my worries with laughter and warm reassurances,

investors.' I had clung to those excuses, and they were laughing at me behind my back, sneaking around, building their new life while I fought to save t

it fly across the room, watching Jack jump to shield her and the

piece of my anger, my pain. I had proven, if only for

ee Amy, her face creased with worry, standing by the door.

pulls back, studying my face wit

but Amy's hands push me back gen

here? How did you ev

came as soon as possible." She starts adjusting the pillows around me, trying to mak

he humiliation, Hannah, the broken glass, the cold dismissal. I try to hold back the tears, but they come anyway,

ters, "That son of a... I s

, but my heart feels too hea

lence, her voice

ll stay at our place until we figure someth

lty will always be with Jack. I don'

nd if Ethan thinks so much of telling Jack you are staying with us, he'll have me to deal with it. H

little. I didn't have anywhere else to go either way. The idea of returning to my parents' house made my stom

days would be hard, that I'd have to face the future alone for the first time in years. But as I cling to Am