afraid

e. Close enough that she c

r chin, tilting it up. Her head wa

ssed down on

l t

to slap his away.

re sh

ull free. He h

ate

me. One more doesn'

very stumbled back a

r, like a cat watching a m

ou'd better make sure yo

edical gloves from the tray on t

She had no idea w

ou

k at her, smirking. "You thought I

once over, then turned

erested in s

e turned back and pushed op

inside. Pale

same one she had injec

trial phase. High ri

be given thi

he could get his hands on this drug. But she wasn't about

nical trials. You can inject i

an read my heart rate and

t like a knife. "You know my case. You're good

of the desk. The metallic scra

ve, Dominic. You're p

d her. His shadow pressed in with every ste

ept breathing. Deep breaths

in front of her.

tion runs out tomorrow

lood turn

give me a plan

ps brushed along the side of her face,

ing the medication and the risk of an uncontrolled dru

depression just below his collarbon

tall frame

sed deep nerve swept through half his body i

ur tolerance. When that ha

ooked u

ur plan tomorrow. As for whether yo

cal numbness, Avery snatched the syringe of

llway hit her collar that she realiz

to her room, Dorot

rawing paper lay in front of her. When she heard the door, she loo

inside the walls

aughter's fingers. Small. Pressed against the floor, like she w

y needs to tell

ooked at her. Her

has to make a lot of decisions every day. Some are right.

nodded slowly, like

only Mommy. I'll decide w

at uncle? Is h

her daughter meant. She

But that doesn't me

hy

nts isn't the same

ghter. She rested her chin on its head

mess?" The little gir

ut and tucked Dorothea's hair behi

ed her face in the rabbit's fur. A

he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her daughter's face.

s nerve anchoring technique. Fingertip pressure on the nerve point be

nto sleep. She knew that for his severe PTSD-related insomnia, it was only a temporary fix. Bu

ket. The one she had gotten from Weng

ll years of Dominic'

year. The earliest entry was from sev

edical history column read: Stress response disorder. Sleep deprivation.

stopped on

rolled

cations, reactions, dosage adjustments. Some pages ha

ed the wrists, the chest, the inner knees. A line of small handwriting beside it

breath

. The star-shaped sca

't an ordi

s collarbone. His skin's warmth still lingered. Her stomach turned. Bil

laptop. The r

, Avery went to

dy awake. He sat on the edge of the bed, hair st

ng," s

dn't

She reached out and pressed her fingers to hi

o and ste

night, so you won't need a nap during the d

at last night?" D

used. "The fil

was in

expression hadn't chang

tions, dosages. Wenger's n

nd

er files were locked.

d up and walked to the

e today

written the night before. Breathing exercis

ck to her. He didn't turn around

min

M

today. No wor

kno

ease ran down his shirt from his shoulder blade to his waist. She th

eatment as usual. The eighth session. In

nt ended, Avery went back to he

u're diffe

d the door, sat down, and pulled Dor

't explain. Then she stopped suddenly and turned to

e. The door was closed

rot

ged her rabbit tighter, then lowered h

a knock came at the d

way. He didn't come in. His eyes went to D

t is

her. "You change

't a qu

wed by a beat. "J

slightly. "You avoide

r went

t him. She d

up the USB drive from the

said, "that you 'go

ser. The dista

ould let a variable cont

pupils c

wly, "why wasn't the first

sensitive files, and they opened right away. She

de it accessi

dn't been investigating him. H

t me to see?" Her

away. He reached out and touched the spot be

said, "if you would

eathin

His voice d

kill

er fingers were still pressed to the