ANA

if my body was afraid

head felt heavy, my throat dry. When I finally looked around, white walls

spi

ond, I hoped it

rushed back-Lucas, the

clenched p

corner of the room. His face looked tired, worried, gui

met, he took a

.." he wh

sed my

y but firmly. "Please.

fr

e. I could feel my heart beating in my ears. I

e," he said quietly.

he did the

th. My hands trembled under the blanket. I stared at the

ck broke th

ld answer, th

sa wal

tightened

confident. If anyone walked into the room without context,

wardly for a moment,

feeling?" she

augh

oken laugh that s

ow?" I asked, turning m

dn't mean for things

red at

an who held my ha

slept in my bed

I called

?" I asked

ooked

Vanessa?"

ng pause before

d," she said. "It

my head

sn't my q

d. "Almost

art dr

yea

. A year of phone calls

clinics... when you prayed with me... when you told me to be p

with tears-but

" she

sliced t

er feel guil

tated. "A

fi

ter?" I

y. "After a while, I realize

fully towa

oes that

u were always strong, always in control. You d

at her in

yed me because

not what

ed. "That's exactl

Ariana. The company, the respect, the pe

o steal my husband

," she snapped sudde

om went

de me crack-but not in

smi

l, tire

ly. "Not that you slept with my husband. But

ace fa

old you my fears. I cried on your s

amed down h

him," she

did

uickly. "Lucas deserve

ped-but I kept

this is about," I

. "You can't g

hoed painfull

ce creeping back into her voice

ed her c

at moment,

insec

jealo

r a life that

as," I said slowly. "

dn't re

ntinued, "is louder t

ed. "What are yo

inst the pillow, s

ing,"

widened. "

day," I

e the victim here, but life do

straight

sn't reward th

, anger flashing

coldly. "But don't stand in t

nd walked tow

she left, I

ness

pau

usband," I said softly

without an

oor cl

ceiling again, my

ed under the blanke

burned i

neither of

the machine beep steadily beside