ie

orters fading into a dull roar in my ears. The world fe

led up silently beside me. The window rolled d

ickeningly sweet. "Elijah said we should

rning to walk away.

in th

e words were flat, cold, and laced with an authority tha

er seat. The car smelled of Kiley's expensive perfume and Elijah's

nnounced brightly, un

now reserved only for her. He got out and walked around the car, opening the driver's side

y was clearly not used to a v

atience in it. His hand rested on the back of her seat, his eyes watching he

ned, her voice a childish whine. "A

to hers, his arm brushing her chest as he reached for the

I saw them-the handsome billionaire and his beautiful young lover, framed together in a perfect p

when I stalled it, the way his hand would cover mine on the gearshift, sending sparks

brown fur shot acro

wheel. In her panic, her foot slammed dow

blur as the car veered sharply, smashing through the guardrail. For a split sec

ook back. With a speed that defied thought, he lunged across the console, twisting

even gla

on

Icy water rushed into the car, a crushing weight th

gh my chest, more chilling than the river water. It was the

started to topple, and without a thought, Elijah had thrown himself over me, taking the full impact on hi

ck, the last thing I saw was Elijah, a powerful silhouette against t

ing Kiley i

soft beeping of a machine. My throat was raw, my

a hospita

ht with anger and fear. "What do you mean you don't know w

r of hope ignited in my che

ition is... complicated. We found some old records. From

l voice interrupted them

as K

h's entire posture changed. The anger and tension drained out

room. He just turned and walke

ts, staring at the ceiling, and

ot about that night five years ago,

do? Pity me? That would be a fate worse than his hatred. Or worse, would he moc

glass in my gut. Yes. It wa

om a gossip magazine left in the waiting room, accompanying a "recoverin

than ever. It wasn't a home; it w

no longer an abstract concept, but an immi

t of town. The photographer, a kind-eyed man in his sixties

d, adjusting his glasses.

" I said, my

outh slightly agape. "

ice not wavering. "Just

r of my skin, but my eyes... my eyes were empty. All the love, the pain, the hope, and the

t urn, a plain white porcelain jar. It was smooth a

ted to be buried next to Corine. It

and staring at the clouds. "If I die first," Corine had said dramatically

," I'd laughed. "Best friends f

id, linking her

I knelt and traced the letters of her name, my fingers lingering on her smi

I'm sorry it took me so long to come see you.

began to fall, silent and hot

ul. "He thinks I left you. But I didn't, Corine, I swear I didn't. My h

own my cheek and landed rig

ered. "I'm coming now. W

napped b

echoed in the silence of

. Slowly, painfull

inst the setting sun, was Elijah. He was holdi

rm, looking bored and