w, private hospit

there, her face conto

see me since Julian' s return, and

fresh stitches pulling, sending

omous. "How dare you upset Julian!

blood in

hat wished for a shred of maternal

laced with a sarcasm I didn't know

was back, stro

tone with me, you ungra

our fault! He told me how you provok

maybe she just wanted to believe

for you, this is how you re

hurled it against the wall. It shattered, sc

ll make sure your real family, those

rely remembered them. She

ty was br

who had followed her in. "Get him out of here! Ta

hauling me out of be

uciating, but I d

y hospital gown flapping, my bare f

oor of Julian' s much lar

ing. "Apologize to your brother! He

ale and weak, an oxygen mask

nocent eyes, but I saw the

ng out a small, pained g

u' ve done! He' s in pain because of you!

Eleanor to come closer. He

me, a picture of

ce barely audible. "It' s..

me, but then "accidentally" presse

cried out, pushing him away

ogize. Not for

illows, letting out a loud cry. "He pushed

or lo

in and again, across the face, on

mal!" she screamed, h

o protect my head, bu

in my vision. The p

ousness was of her distorted, hatefu

scape them, escape

ccording to the quiet n

ad been split open. My

resolve had

ut of this hospital

t systemic failure echoed i

re, not like this, no

, my movements s

last thi

ter, Buddy curled up on the sea

or' s office, a kind-fac

k. It contained all the cash

nd for the shelter. Please, take care of him. Fi

e tears anymore. Buddy

full of concern. "Mr. Miller? Ar

one last time. He lick

now, resigned. "Permanently. Please,

prom

ut, not lo

s leaving a part