na,

b. He spun me around, his grip tight enough to bruise.

" he panted, his chest heaving. "Hay

tealing the air from my lungs. "Apologize? She

io insisted, tightening his hol

arm free, but he was immova

lm down. You're a

oice cracked, raw and sharp

n came running out. I noticed with a jolt of bitte

, her face twisted in a mask of performative

uch you!" I

e. She grabbed Emilio's free arm, anchoring herself to

frantic, vulnerable mistress

hoice. It wasn't a conscious thought

hove

is hands into my shoulders and shoved me hard, back

, Elana!"

dge of the curb. I flailed, my

y took

backwar

e steps of the building behind me. A shar

ld went

was lower. Deep in my pelvis. A tearing, molt

he anger draining from his face.

out of the shop,

ng his face into her neck. "Oh god, Leo, don

io f

forgiving concrete, clutching my stomach. T

n lasted only

d his ba

, his voice thick with concern as he wrapped

o my skin. Beneath me, I felt something

oo

as a perfect, cloudless blue

range detachment settling over

as hurt. He was comforting the woman who h

..." I

ll call an ambulance," he said dismissively. "Ju

lked

them, leaving me ble

in was unbearable, but t

ifted me onto a stretcher. Stra

l, the doctor'

on my arm. "I'm so sorry. You were... you were

e sterile whit

lebration. The ch

ant. And my husb

later. He smelled like

e bed. He looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight from

d. My voice sounded dead to m

is jaw tightening. "You were being a

led yours,"

. It was... it was just a cluster of cells. We can

ked his

gaze. "Hayden is a wreck. She thinks thi

leaving

" I

mised, already turning toward the

l

bedside table. A text

holding a glass of wine. Hayden was leaning on hi

way of cleaning up messes.

s burned into my retinas. Then, I dele

ical pain was dull now, a hollow ache,

my phone and

la

ice steady for the first time all day. "I need a p

appe

at no longer felt like home. "Elana Acosta died on that pav