er of eyelashes. There was just a sudden, violent return to c

t they wouldn't open. There was weight. heavy

her chest. She sat up too fast. Her

as

ble. The sound of shattering glass echoed in

the foster homes before Gertie, breaking s

was only

throat was dry, like

e ans

knees to her chest. She was blind. S

led themselves. The surgery.

. Her mind, untethered by visual input, drifted backw

-two. Waitressing a

. Don Douglas, her biological father, had handed her a cup of tea. He looked at he

he stairs. She was perfect. Blonde, polished, radiant. She h

c, Annabella had w

dislodge the memory. The movement

tal room opened. Rubb

voice said. It wasn't unk

aid. I didn't know

I'll get a broom

ed. Just like

onference room in Midtown. A table made of mah

behind him, turning him into a silhouette. H

acquired prior to the union. Page 80, p

ked at her. It w

ts the best oncologists in the sta

a transaction.

. At that moment, she respected Clive more than she respected her own p

led for the call button cord. She fou

She needed to ta

located it by sound, sliding

e. Gia. Her

night. I swear, if I see one more picture of your mother wearing t

ly. She tapped the

ust... dark. I'm pretending I'm in a sen

. A lie. Bu

bathroom. The nurse

ed. Her feet touched the cold floor. She rea

zziness hit her like

step. The

hard with something

h

pricked behind the bandages, stinging t

lt pat

millions of dollars with a phone call. He walked through the world

was grounding. She traced it until sh

cc

the sounds of the hospital. The squeak of

allway, two nurs

just came up t

rington. The suit alone

eart skipp

rin

mposs

ial Times said so. He was closi

maybe she was hallucinat

burying her fac

isn't coming. He doesn'

exactly how s