ing. The rhythmic beep of the heart monitor was the only s

ighteen years

s Brenda. In my first life, I' d thought of her as a compassionate ange

full of fake sympathy. "Olivia has been ask

face a blank mask.

second. "She' s in the next

of a future that hadn't happened yet. I swung my legs over the side of the bed

the door to

her hair artfully messy on the pillow. Mark sat beside her, holding her hand, h

pered, her voice a fra

he bed, my arms crossed.

ons," she said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

the room. "My baby boy. He' ll have no one. My family.

r disowned her the moment he found out. I... I don' t know what to do." He bu

had rushed to her side, taken her hand, and promised he

t nothing but co

only friend. The only one I can trust. Please, promise me you' ll take ca

reying on my compassion, m

moment. I watched the hope in her eyes turn

" I

it landed in the room

Mark lifted his head, h

stammered. "Wh

my voice flat and even. "I

? Your best friend is on her deathbed, and you' re say

ed in, her voice suddenly stronger. "It' s your duty

she' d bought me lunch, or the cast-off designer clothes she'

of cheap paint and turpentine that clung to my clothes because I couldn' t afford a proper studio. I remembered ea

ng on that stage, b

u, Olivia? The duty to give up my art? My career? My future? So you and Mark

e. My words were too

venom. "Olivia is dying, and all you can think about is yourse

s eyes. "If she' s truly dying, then all the more reason for y

him. "Or isn' t he

g in the air, sh

. A flash of pure fury crossed her face b

e whimpered. "I never knew

e who taught me,

m in a stunned silence. The performance was over