ley

th. He stumbled back, his hand falling from my face. T

ith a rage so profound it felt like a physical illness. "Afraid you

tried to regain his footing, to appeal to a history I no longer recognized. "You were the

softening into a weak, pathetic plea.

voice a soft, wondering murmur. "That's so strange. Everyone in my

nd the doctors said each one was a miracle. They said I cou

was as subtle as

before he quickly suppressed it. He took a step toward me, his movements stiff and unnatu

ll ever call my wife," he decla

s confirm my deepest fear. He was framing this as my fai

ayed in my mind in sickening, high-definition clarity. The trip I took to a remote Swiss clinic, chasing a radical new t

that, he had brought h

was charred on the outside and raw in the middle. The asparagus was limp

without a word, c

bracelet. My bracelet. The one Damian had given me for our fifth an

come to bed late, long after I was asleep,

in me took over, shutting down the heartb

ngerously calm. "This is your

ing so paranoid! You're ruining everything with your insane jealousy!" He

oard. A hot, searing pain shot through my

g to be some delicate flower now. I've seen you take a

ight with him outside a bar. I had stepped between them without a second thought. My

a fake apology. "Don't," I said, my voice l

sts at his sides. "Is it impossible f

back on him. "It's her or me, Damian. That's it." I sta

mouth open to say someth

's my fault," she whimpered. "I'll leave. It's what I deserve. My ex-husba

towards the wall. "Maybe

as if she were about to dash her head against it. His eyes were filled

ed, stroking her hair. "You're th

miraculously gone, replaced

nsuring I would hear every word as I paused on the stairs. "Unlike some people, y

r his shoulder. A triumphant smirk flickered acro

inside m

ntic, painful rhythm. I turned, marched back down the stairs

re, undiluted fury,

y voice raw and broken