e Bea

cus, a blurry kaleidoscope

ices, the rhythmi

d, a dull ache

up," a soft

dark hair and gentle

nu

I?" I croaked, my

," she said, her voice soothi

t was an und

k: the voicemail, Gage's lies

o my stomach, a frantic sea

t. Terrify

, a look of profound sadn

red, her hand gently covering mi

shatter

down my face,

wins.

thread connecting

whelming grief, a strange

him, because of his betray

en everyth

my future,

nothing le

eft for h

rode in, his face etched with conc

edside, his hand

away, my

laced with forced tenderness. "I rushed

erformance, a cruel mocke

e barely above a whisper

s hand hoveri

lie?" he asked,

, my gaze burning into him

as if I ha

and the babies..." His voice trailed off,

was t

ere hollow,

said, the truth a bitter

drained

stammered, his eyes wide with a c

nger now. "Brylee. Your 'passion.' Your 'thrill.'

n the air, heavy

ir beside my bed, hi

lain," he mumbled,

said, my voice cold as ice. "It'

es red-rimmed, a fli

arlie. Don't say that. We can fix this. I'll

ing my lips. "And what happened? You ran to her the moment

in the air, a p

y, unable to

desperate now. "Anything you want.

ce filled with a finality that shook even me. "

the room, her vo

hours are over. Mrs. S

her, but she st

k to me, his

about this. Don't mak

," I said, my voice steady.

ed, but no wo

ction spreading through me, "I'm l

es wide with a mixture

he had me

e back, always forgive, alway

wrong.

t the nurse gently, but firml

g me alone in the quie

, but

was still immense,

tiny spark of some

ee

escaping, not of sorrow, but o