Dr. Evans er

sed behind us, I looked

said outside," I said, lowering m

rom his fingers and hit

ed from his fac

t understand the me

evidence of a serious vehicular crime," I said. "I also understand that if you dare attach those electrodes to

icked the clipboard off th

y do you wan

ess-that I have forgotten everything from the past week. And you will write into m

t the closed d

elf. "The full purge is still scheduled for Wednesday. If I am goin

ded. "All righ

machines hummed their monotonous drone, I

the treatment room with my shoulders s

, and Damian w

er Manor, convinced their

ht spilled across the ma

twenty-six

house had not once sa

ing staircase into the luxu

of frying bacon

island in a beige cashmere

d with a doting,

rl," Belinda said, walking

at long-buried longing de

me still hoped that

Mom," I sa

elinda said, gesturing to a white p

d into

iced ham, mushrooms-and an eno

lanketed the entire

y mouth, cilantro tastes like crush

I swallow it, my throat begins to swell, and

en with me since I

ores cilantro and wa

o stay flat, "I can't eat cilantr

d from Belinda's

er expression filli

picking fights first

t," I said. "I'm allerg

nted an omelet with fresh cilantro this morning, and it was easier to make one big batch. Did you expect me

arish strip of green ac

, and she used it to force something do

he back door

shorts, carrying a glossy black shoppi

lose behind in a w

le, but her dark eyes

t me!" Jocelyn squeale

k pulled out an emerald-

ith a soft luster i

e pearl beading tr

aught for h

hown me a photo of this very

ng so hard at the office l

twenty-sixth birthday. It's time you l

ad looked forward to that

olding it up agains

ous, Josie," Derek said, gazing d

owered her head, pouting with

's birthday? Didn't you say

ed a care

ics firm's finance department all day-when would she ever wear pure Italian silk? Josie, you'r

warning and a challenge, certain I wo

You're the older sister. Surely

I don't min

hollow, yet s

t. My closet couldn

rly thrown that I h

osed to mean?" he

s ago, Mom had the partition wall torn out and turned my closet into Jocelyn's private dressing

e stiffened,

. "Jocelyn has medical needs-oxygen equipment and garments. D

ing anyone," I said.

walked around the island, and head

follow

es lined with imported olive oil

he doorframe, watching m

ed sweetly, her tone dri

ition. Whenever I'm under stress, my chest hurts terribly. You understand, don't you?

n at the app

all paring knife from t

y, Jocelyn,"

ake me out to a fancy lunch today to celebrate my cardiac checkup coming back all clear. He asked

ed up the bac

her out to celebra

peeling

gertips trembling fa

de slipped on

into the index fin

blood welled

the cutting board, then spattere

d, pressing my thumb

ed down and

es fle

shrill, pier

ch blood!" Jocelyn clutc

e pantry, her breath g

hest... my heartb

n exploded

the room, nearly over

he cried, dropping to her knees beside

nd wrapped his powerfu

ly! Where's her nitroglycerin

he front doo

riefcase in one hand and a

the floor, gasping for air, his brief

Damian bellowed,

ed, a shaking finger pointed at the pantry. "Josie faints at the

scooping Jocelyn up in his arms. "My car's outside.

pantry, pressing paper towe

re already soaked t

, the flesh torn open, the

ay from him, my voice low. "My finger

his head and

rly cold, without

leeding hand-for l

ous. "You barely nicked yourself. Josie is having a heart attack! S

out the front door wit

erek rushed o

door sla

ough the vast, de

nk into a gr

oft drip of my blood, hitting

in the middle

bbed in deep,

e back corridor to

he mirrore

le piece of sterile

had long since been moved upst

, outdated Band-Aids and a bottle of rubbing

ured the alcohol directly

n was like bein

eeth and made n

and bound the split wound ti

ed back to

r towels, bent down, and wiped ev

ained towels i

onless, ate the few slices of green apple I

noon, the phone on

from

observation; we'll all be with her in the ICU tonight. Don't fo

uietly at

whether my blee

whether I ha

id happy

en and replied wi

ka

t apple slices, and watched the dark clouds

ow was

the last day of their