ra

p, tearing sensation, but I k

ck to yesterday aftern

emed to cling to my fingertips still. When the screwdriver finally pried it

the worn stacks of bills, totaling exactly ten thousan

from birthdays, holidays, an

side a thick manila envelope, then crept into my

sage chair for my parents, because I tho

w sneakers, because he alway

tly watch over my family f

hile I had written that note

bout my boundle

refused to be a fin

chemo hurt too much and

he envelope, I had w

e from ever touching it, explaining that it contained something lethal-a substance so dangerous that even a single drop would kill in unspeakable agony, a thing he claimed he was merely storing

us mechanics of corrosive toxins, and knew

rom financial ruin. I had decanted the deadly liquid into a small travel vial, keeping it hidden against my skin. It was

severed any chance

f that the discovery that my agonizing illness had be

d not ha

ir past affect

age five, named Clara, and rais

keep me dependent, and that their love was a projectio

en

d in the hollo

flyer locked deep inside my father's desk drawer, a gho

y family had a desperat

the conflict over the betrot

y family did not tr

king them sideline me with the i

o idea I had i

would die on the op

r robbed of their ch

st signaled that i

mising to stay right by

promising to buy me delicio

e on a vacation to th

bloodshot, and told me they

through

e barely audible. "Dad, Mom, M

ept harder

e heavy swinging doors of the operatin

mouth to d