IRE'

Beep.

o consciousness. Each electronic sound reminded me th

pared to the pressure on my chest. Tubes connected to

lose to seeing Richard i

a perfectly pressed Armani suit and shiny Italian leat

was awake, he check

rd hit me like a s

d been unconscious

elt raw. "Wh

as a company earnings report. "The doctor said if I had

d have

orehead, and tell me he was terrified of losing me. Instead,

g have I

at his watch. Always checking, alway

ng enough for reality

my husband. In our bed. Her head thrown back in ecstasy whi

he had seen me in the doorway-no

e intruder in

s name. "We need to talk about wha

connection. But he pulled away before I coul

oolish heartbeat, hope bloomed in my ch

ybe

need t

white paper. Expensive stock. The kind lawyers used when they wante

d turned

at?" But I a

side table like he was delivering a business prop

an he had been planning this while I was un

up this morning? Wh

re. This situation needs to b

tuat

red dreams and whispered promises-h

ntinued. "No drawn-out proceedings. No

ee years of loving him coul

hroat. "Yesterday morning you told me you lo

ning I was tryi

ught lying to m

r marriage? What about the life we

here you cling to me like a fucking parasite? Where you have no identity except bein

e. He had thought this through. He planned it

Claire." His voice

erfect wife. The way you look at me like I'm some ki

isg

h knell. He was disgusted by me. By the

er mean

trol me? Make me feel guilty for wanting mor

ved you," I

and the sound was like g

votion, I call pathetic dependence. A real woman has her

eal w

e Mon

way they used to light up for me. "She's everything you're not. Ind

ued, delivering the final blow with corporate

In the house we had chosen together.

she should be here soon. She wanted to see how

tress through my hospital room

raped out of me. "How long h

s. The machines beeped. My h

ition," he said finally. "Since I reali

' And that wasn't m

ands. The metal was still warm from my skin,

ake

ught I saw a brief change in his expression. Then h

y assistant will arrange for someone t

e door, and I calle

feel anything? Any

ike a blade. "I feel relief, Claire. For

d behind him wi

Elizabeth Blackwood.' Soon to be ju

to be

e after page reducing three years to assets and lia

pen. The ink flowed across the page,

lizabeth B

he las

d in the hallway

yes as the doo

ir catching the fluorescent light, her des

off a magazine cover, even at a

dripping with false concern. "I came a

eyes were

ned divorce papers sc

e was s