Gibso

se, every orderly, every doctor who entered the sterile white room. "I n

delusional disorder, brought on by extreme grief. My insistence on Bristol's culpability was merely a symptom, a projection of my o

on grip would come in with a small paper cup

urse's kind eyes hardened. Two large orderlies appeared, holding me down while she forced the pills into my mou

k until they left, then spitting the half-dissolved mess into the toilet. I woul

ans, a man whose tailored suits were as

through my chart without looking at me. "Dexter is very worried. We

r patients in the common room. The vacant, haunted loo

room that smelled of antiseptic and fear. A cold gel was applied to

said softly, her voice filled with

ween my teeth. I saw Dr. Evans

the restraints, every muscle seizing. It was a fire that burned away thought, memory

ing, aching wreck. I lay on the thin mattress, staring at the ceil

hen the do

. Beside him, clinging to his arm, was Bristol. She looked

of emotion. He pulled a chair over, sitting by my bed as if this were a norm

usly agreed not to press charges for the... incidents at the funer

nt, relinquishing all claims to our company, our assets, our entire life together. And a statement, pre-written, for the pre

me to declare to the world that I'm insane, that I lied about everything, j

g a simple concept to a child. "Think of it as a fresh start. You sign, you get out of here. We can te

ur perfect new family, your legac

eplaced by the ruthless CEO I knew he had become. "Sign the papers, or you will stay here

naged, a loose end to be tied up. The fight went out of me, replaced by an exhaustion so profound it felt like it wa

" I wh

hed over his face. H

ckery of care. He handed me a pen, his hand guiding mine to the signatur

dreamless sleep of pure collapse. I woke up in our bedroom. Someone was undressing me,

s trying to help me

insane moment, I thought he was apologizing for e

, Aliana. You forced my hand. If you had just been

ng me. For m

let him finish, my body limp and unresponsive. He t

ecovered from the shock," he said, as if discussing the weather. "Once she'

This was just another tactic, another way to manage me until t

d a new plan now. It wasn't about fightin

I whispered, turning

had his docile, broken wife back. He brushed a kiss against m

painfully, I got out of bed. I would leave this pla

ke my memo

stairs. It sounded like furniture being moved, or rather, th

nstairs, my heart pounding a

n pictures of Leo from the day he was born, was gone. The wall was bare, scarred with emp

Bri

serene, her hand resting on her stomach. It was a ma

en in horror, another mover walked past me, carrying a box. Through the open top, I s

clearing o

ng?" My voice was

. He looked at me, his expression one of annoyance. "We'r

y control finally shatterin

fe. I collided with the mover, sending him stumbling backward. He crashed into the

ol, who had just entered the room to admire her new shrine, was standing right

rical sound. Blood, shockin

shoved me aside so hard I fell, my head hitting the co

ng over Bristol, his voice thick with conc

rrifying realization dawning. "The photos. His toy

jury. "They were just things, Aliana," he said, his voice cold and

led to my feet and ran, not to him, not to Bristol,

The acrid smell of smoke and burned plastic hung in the air. Lying in the ashes, I could see the charred, mel

ing. He had burned ou