ida

. I was floating in that grey, murky space where pa

n't die," a man's

leaner if she had," a

heavy, anchored by lead.

ll

e fog of drugs like a cold

id, her voice dismissive. "

throat was paralyzed, tra

he used for mergers. "The auction is set for Friday. We tell her the medical bills were

ll probably thank you

dn't I?" Derek said. "God, I'm tired of pre

Else cooed. "Then she's gone

og li

ned m

e foot of my bed. Derek

ooked

fying transformation; the sneer evaporated, re

epping forward. "You'

hed for

led i

as small, but

in the air. His

My voice sounded like broken

e sighed, a perfect

. The crash... the t

*I chose to

n I had loved for three years. I lo

saw no

o hate. Ju

ut," I

. "Honey, you

et out!"

eeping rapidly, registering the

k. He looked at E

you some spa

alked out. He d

ed my IV, her movements efficient but her

I asked her. "Du

he door, weighing her professi

whispered finally. "With the other

brat

ng, and they we

you,"

re no flowers. No cards. Just the

the bedside tabl

messages

er love

arren now

die al

ed the

led S

et me,"

ed me dress in silence, her jaw set tight

idn't pay the bill. Derek could pa

apartment downtown. S

I grieved. I let the darkness swallow me whole. I cried u

I st

hes I wore in the hos

woman staring back was thinn

was

y, there was a k

ened

holding a bouquet of whi

hick with fake emotion. "Please. C

to step

ed the

Derek," I said. "Y

d. "What are you

d. "In the hospital.

owly, it twisted into a snee

you? You're the crazy, grieving ex-wi

closer, loo

ith me, Aleida.

t was a dry,

got,"

got

ll you. I'm not

the door i

g on it. I heard h

s door! You're no

d the d

him down below. He was kicking his

t he had

mething that has alrea

way from t

hadn't drawn in years. Dere

p a charco

ted to

bird. A

from th

t time in a long

asn't

just the