dict

ospital vibrated with a

him stare blankly at his computer screen. The internal

eased Pediat

shock secondary to venomous s

d down, his move

ame: Jere

ralyzed ove

ll

ast

to clear a hallucination. Then, hi

y 1

ce, leaving him ashen. July 14th.

s laptop months ago-a search for a limited-edition Ultraman figure. He knew. Somewhere in t

," he w

on his tongue, heavy with

man I had once loved. I felt a surge of grief, not for h

nce, and the door swung open

ing coffees. She looked fresh, res

ce jarringly bright against the gloom. "

smash the scalding coffee cups against th

her, his eyes unfocu

t's voice cracked. "

kip a rhythm. I could sense it from where I floate

is a com

ace aggressively, try

e was a woman...

e, calm click. She walked over and placed her hands on

ice dripping with false sympathy. "That woman was unhinged. She was

from her lips as

d, he wanted to believe her. It was infinitely easier to accept t

ured, his resistance cru

e office doo

knock. No p

ith him. The air in the room shifted instantly, heavy with authority a

ut beneath the fury,

tood up, startled

traight to the desk and slammed a piece of

L

ersons flyer. My f

nded, his voice shaking with a

, then back at his father, c

o not und

tor spotting prey. "I just watched the footage from last night. A woman mat

on Benedict's shoulde

gaze onto Yvonne. It was a look tha

Yvonne. It shows you and you

er-in-law-my real family, in spirit if not in bl

e cold fluorescent lights and the stench o