of a hospital is a memory from another life

leg throbs with a deep, persistent ache. Charlotte w

is a beacon in the dim room. A ne

te Mayo and Howard Franklin-A

tel. He has his arm around her, a protective gesture. She is leaning

p it takes my breath away. This i

oast sits there. The acceptance letter for their veterinary program. Last

my only e

and Howard Franklin steps inside. He's carrying a

ied up in meetings, but she wanted me to ma

ble. The steam rises, carrying a

an

o peanuts. One spoonful

iled file her assistant kept on me. Allergies, fears, medical hist

gry," I say,

ex. Don't be difficult. Charlotte made this herself be

d a meal in over a decade. Bu

lotte. She looks tired, stressed, but she

nurse," she says to hi

What's wrong now? Alex, Howard is being kind

he one who rushed me to the emergency room when I was ten after I ate a cookie at a school p

same person. Love has made her blind. Or perhap

ition in her eyes

And I have to fail

ed from my body, I pick up the sp

to my lips

s like it' s packed with hot gravel. I can't draw a breath. Whee

esk drawer. I stumble to

er open, my fingers fumbl

thing!" Howard shouts, a p

spasms. The EpiPen flies from my grasp, skitter

. I look up at Charlotte, my hand o

es a m

, unstable" boy, reachi

ane!" she shrieks, her fac

to call 911, but to hit t

e him to the cold storage room in

r I broke a vase. I was terrified of the dark, and she' d lock me in f

it's

fight back. My lungs are on fir

the room, I hear Ho

e. He didn't mean it

ted door is Charlotte, allowing Howard to pull her into

ezing darkness. Then, there is only the