sed to be my fortress, the place wh

t became m

inals, where I was the favor

, her voice full of hope. "Our

f that locked room away, the

desperate, Ellie. I just wanted to help her calm down. I never th

ynchronized team.

on singles. That

n on the secluded outdoor tr

the sky dark. I nee

re stepped out f

ha

to talk," he sai

figures emerged from the darkn

d sharp, pier

t is this?"

n't meet

ight more than you do, Ellie," he

ice for my family. You remember, the

rabbed my arm. I t

ndma Rose! Her whole life, she' s dreame

of something in his e

voice hardening. "You can make a co

t, you already took care of that. But I' ll publicly say it was my choice, g

itself from a ne

been wa

rds us, a slow,

ard my

at all, Ethan," Tiffany sai

ce a mask of conflicted ag

heavy, metallic. An iron discus f

ath hi

s, Ellie-baby," Ethan whisper

nodded a

cus cam

ck echoed in th

xploded

, a raw, a

ground, the world

aw Tiffany watching, a small

inkillers and tries to skate a

like nails o

gestured. The man ra

o much?" Tiffany cooed, feignin

ond blo

through me. My vision w

ne can provide for her

ed and walked away quickl

ld track, my le

legacy, a nation' s hopes –

beside me, h

s voice thick with something I couldn'

my hair made

his ultimate, twis

sacrifice is why my family is what it is tod

hot, surged t

never been saved!" I s

into a mask of

t. "How can you say such a thing? You're just

you. We'll get married. Just don't expect to bring your

gh the tears blurring my vision

out, "are ove