Married to a Stranger, Loved by a Ghost

sound of someone

ly. Not

ent

a...

es sna

m of an air conditioner. The air smells steril

osp

istant, like it belongs to someone else. When she lifts her

ri

t unmistakably expensive. It gli

omach

ember owning a

t remember

ens with a

steps

shadowing his jaw, shirt wrinkled at the collar. His eyes lock on

re aw

reaks on th

tures so suddenly it

ys again, soft

ares a

lled posture, the kind of man who looks like he lives insi

intest trem

er voice comes out ho

drains fr

ches between them

g fragile that might shatter if he moves too fast.

catches the

wife," he s

ulse

Cal

Caleb. Two years, he tells her. Married for two years. A car

b brushing her knuckles as if memorizing them. "They w

por

oc

, a feeling, a fragment of him in her

th

tic where her me

m. Retrograde amnesia isn't uncommon after trauma. Her bra

peats later, as he

gently, re

ng, fear creeps into his expressio

ng terr

xactly what she

rt that unset

e. A bookshelf organized by color. Fresh euc

like he

ot he

es her overnight bag inside. "You were obsessed wi

a

ord s

the entryway. There are fr

eath c

icture, sh

like a vineyard, her arm looped through Caleb's. O

ies her

ooks

di

l

nces at

r reaction close

member any of

akes h

gain-hurt, yes, but something el

ys quickly. "We'll

a

old ones d

y can be

ght, sh

s ru

ntless. Her lungs burn. Her heart pounds so

ps behi

shouting

n't Caleb

racked with something t

, don'

tu

neath a flicker

e edges, like smoke obscu

are dev

e. Not co

per

up," h

a

omm

mised yo

hing fills the air. Headl

pright in b

kne

clock read

Caleb sleeps

wrapped arou

loos

rm

choring

his face in

. Beautif

r hand slowly

ns it ins

lse st

ng, she finds

rs into the study. It's immaculate-de

wer is

know why tha

s. Insurance forms. Medica

. Over a

she s

ipping tucked

adline

ICAL CONDITION AFTE

eks before the accid

ngers

the articl

is unmistakable. S

eren

ent lo

ent ac

th turns

echo in th

the drawer just as Caleb appears in th

you doing?

ne is

li

looking

n the desk for hal

ld rest,"

nd som

out before sh

e body go

she continues carefully

swallows

laughs

hair. "That was a minor accident last year

not what

yes s

le

e he's said her na

s back then. You fainted while

it

d it to say." His voice hardens sli

in pri

't you me

eps c

cl

ant to over

rs brush

d feel i

feels like

murmurs. "Let's not g

os

ord e

, the drea

ime cl

scent lights flicker overhead. Th

more of

ehead. A cut on his lip. Blood

s her s

r," he says urgently

actures insi

you?" she

ession s

ve me,"

his voice is

re my

slams i

i

ts awak

upright this time

ng nightmare

ques

o you

saying someon

ods her

t na

answer im

aw ti

nie

plodes insi

fl

aced wi

hoing off b

d promise

uickly as

leans

refully. "You had a coworker onc

s not

nty shocks

dies h

he sm

ime, the smile does

s," he says softly. "It happens

usi

er clippings

ents that

t feels carved

hair away fro

e safe

s it makes her

a

sounds li

down, she stares

beneath the confusion and f

tin

inct is

am, Daniel wasn't

one trying

ident-about rain and headlights a

bers some

the stee

he

nin

bera

eath c

urns her head toward the

is peacef

tro

rf

sts on her wais

she woke up, Elena feels some

eels

ghost in her dream

s the man who neve

ories really a

nows

running o