ca

ays l

is morning. I had one night left i

said a word, but his presence was a shield against the world. He waited i

penthouse apartm

contained the amulet with Grandma's ashes. It

" a sickly sw

hts fli

She was wearing one of Anthony's shirts

e?" I asked, my voice t

ked toward me. She smelled of expensive perfume and rot.

ut," I

," she c

ard, crashing into the coffee tab

ny! She's at

nthony stormed out, his chest

or, clutching her arm, a

didn't look at my tear-sta

ne

the floorboards again. My chin h

ca sobbed, squeezing out fake te

ng over to me. He grabbed me by the hair and

ing in my throat. "Anthon

e in college, the other students had locked me in a janitor's closet filled

n your place," An

y. I clawed at his arm, but h

storage closet. It was tin

ew me

creamed. "I can't brea

you've done to m

med shut. The

swallowed

t like they were closing in. The

out! Le

e door until my

y!" I s

ggle. "Oh, Ant, you're so

bit," Anthony's muf

ps fade

y chest heaved, but no air seemed to enter my lung

tarted to

et bag with Grandma

I whispered int

confusion I felt for Emmanuel... it a

hing inside me shifted. Not my body-

ing Erica died

nothing, listening to the silence

t, my eyes dry and burning. I wi