to my raw desperation. "Clare, you know the radical nature o

ely audible. "Tell me what happened, Clare

he utter devastation? The feeling of being erased, r

gently. "I always worried.

n my voice surprising even myself. "He'

t through this. We can explore t

e. All of it. The memories. The pain. The person I w

structuring?" Thorne's voice grew grave. "That's an entirely di

ing over me. "What about the memory part? The... select

ned to sever emotional ties, to create a blank slate, a new core identity. But it's risky, Clare. Unpredic

ng my lips. "The person I was... she

ust about escape. It was about absolute, unequivocal obliteration of their v

rne insisted, his voice firm. "We need t

air as him, pretend everything is fine... it's a living death. Either you he

c tomorrow morning. Early. We'll talk. But I'm warning you

angerous thing," I said, my vo

decision was ma

uld be back soon. I practiced my breathing, slow

him slip under the covers. The famili

r perfume clung to him. Cheap. S

n his hand brushed my hip. A

thick with fake sleep. "Are you

ered, turning away from him

er. His arm wrapped around me, a possessiv

ean. I would be cleansed. I imagined the new life, the

his even breaths, waiting for the first hint of dawn.

bed. A long, scalding shower. I scrubbed my skin raw, tryi

y there, perched on a stool, stirring her c

ft. He said he'd make us his spe

fresh air and deceit clinging to him. "My two favorite women! What can I get for you, my l

batting her eyelashes. "Y

with an underlying current that even I didn'

he double meaning. "See? Clare

ass of water. "I was just wondering,

as he reached for the egg

my love. Never. We're a team. Always." He took a step towards me, his e

who was now staring at her c

alm. "If, hypothetically, you were to betray me, to

walls. "Don't be ridiculous, Clare. That's never going to happen. We're soli

me, if you ever truly broke my heart... I think I'd just disappear. I

this time. "You're being dramatic, my l

w, chilling smile spreading acros