the limousine. The door cl

eath that seemed to empty her lungs compl

he mirror. He handed her a bo

one?" h

ewed the cap and took a long drink. T

her neck.

r skin. His hands tightened on the ste

harles muttered. It wa

raspy. "He's already dead insid

st the seat. "Take me to the e

ted. "Are you

t. I'm not setting foot in that house ever aga

d t

ings to the 5th

penth

e I bought three years ago under the she

d. He put the

t on 5th Avenue. It was modern, stark, and cold

ropped off her bags but had to ret

eavy. It pressed

nd found a bottle of whiskey she had stored in the cupb

ndow. New York City glittered below h

p. The burn w

gustus-God, no. It was the sheer, crushing weight of being alone in the unive

ital bed paid for by charity, while her st

er glass to the

plete, Mom,"

She pulled it out. It was a noti

200,000,000.00. Subject:

as enough money to buy countrie

s felt stiff. The smile

e gulp. Exhaustion, heavy and

e dust sheet off the bed, and collap

dreaming of storms