't sleep

red, resigned, still trying to smile for her. She heard the metallic cli

ur life.

tains, her chest tight, her head pounding. The house felt hollow n

d came from

om

ans

bedroom. The door was ajar. Inside, her mother lay curled on the be

hed to her side

ak, but the words came

" she whisper

oded thro

th shaking fingers, pressing a cool cloth to her moth

Not th

ria sat alone in the waiting room, her knees drawn to her chest,

passed.

ched her, his expression

condition," he said. "The stress

pped. "Is she go

e'll need ongoing treatment. M

it cost?" Ari

tor hes

ion told her

pital corridor, staring out the window

one vi

nown n

nched as she an

made a d

n's v

osed h

id honestly.

the other end. Not im

y," Julian said calmly. "To

th caugh

eplied. "For men accused o

around the phone. "You

e said. "I'm simply k

hard. "My mo

her

k?" Juli

he words tearing out of her.

e stre

uieter this time. "I'll co

t lurche

cision," he said. "Con

ugh. "That's not goodw

Julian replied. "It doe

r cheeks. She didn

not just destroy my father and be d

exhaled

ake up every day knowing exactly

ne wen

bed, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest.

s eyes flut

ered. "Your fathe

mile. "He's oka

too perceptive even through

throat

aid, echoing the promise she

d weakly around hers. "Don

ressing her forehead t

alread

nly one way

ng mirror in her bedroom. She looked the same-same dark e

ed up he

she didn'

she said when he ans

le

eplied. "My lawyer

d despite herself

paused.

," Aria said. "And you don

was

" Julian said. "As lon

all e

phone slowly, h

eed to marry a m

e her

nded over