ail of her face, breathing in her sweet, milky scent. This was my heaven. I knew, with chilling certainty, that Lisa was in her own private hell ju

ing our things when he got a call from his brothe

asked, already k

slept at all. The baby just screams and screams. She's asking if you can come dow

life, she was the one with the "magic touch," the one whose "

feed Emily one more time. You can take our t

oney. I know you're tired, but

eld Emily tight. "I'll be right back, my love," I w

tense. I could hear a baby wailing from halfway down the hall, a furious, high-pitched scream th

here, punctuated by Lisa's own frantic, sobbing voice

d the d

looked like she had been through a war. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were red and swollen, and there were dark circl

her face. "Sarah! Thank God. I don't know what to do

Lisa's arms, peeking out from the sleeves of her gown, were angry red scratche

, with those same scratches on my arms. I had hidden them under long sleeves, a

he bites me. Look." She showed me her arm, the angry marks clear as day. "Wha

the past, but this time, they w

alse sympathy that tasted like victory.

begged, her eyes wild with exhaustion. "Maybe he'll c

ing baby to me. I took a ste

. He said because Emily was a little early, I shouldn't hold any other ba

raw fury. She was trapped. And I was her only wa

ce tight with resentment.

tighter? Sometimes that helps." It was the same

then made my escape. As I walked away, the sound of Alex's screaming

e was strapping a sleepin

she?" h

a tough time,"

I said, my voice serious. "I want to put the house on the

eyes, and then nodded. He reached over and t

tly. "Whatever you

ike an eternity, my future wasn't a dark, terrifying void. It was bright and full of hope. We drove a