ere impassive, their faces bla

on' t let him do this. He' s m

ed their work, pr

e of them finally looked at me, a flicker of pity in her eyes, but sh

sed in surgical scrubs. H

said, as if comforting a frightened

otification from my bank. The fifty million dol

. And I wa

escape, but I was about to be put under, disfigu

operating room. The bright light

spered one last time, the

close to mine. "This i

last thing I saw before the mask covered my face and the world faded to black was the silent, stead

ad was a throbbing ball of pain. My face was completely swathed

entity was gone. My passport photo wouldn't match this new, un

ur "new beginning." He described the face he had given me. "Sim

e to unveil my "restorative" surgery, to sho

unnerved him, but he didn't care. He was too busy visiting Gia, who was ma

as my only chance. That morning, a text message confirmed my

d to take it, hiding the pills under my tongue. As soon as she le

ody was weak, but my will was pure iron. I ripped the IV from my arm, igno

ed like a monster. But I didn't care. I crept

nd went straight to the airport. I had a ticket for the firs

e TSA agent looked from my bandaged face to my passp

let you through. Th

explain, but my voice was a hoarse whi

ould hear the final call. I watched the je

ch one sending a fresh wave of pain through my healing face. Tears soaked into t

lys

z. He was standing in front of

o you?" he asked

ointed at my face, at the

more questions. He

e said. "I' ll get

ivate aviation terminal

oing?" I whispe

he said. "Somew

glittering lights of New York City. It was the city of my dreams

. My past, my pain, the man

had saved me twice. For the first time in a long time, I fe