ed, her voice terrifyi

. She looked at Iris with a mixture of pity and concern. "Why are you here all alone? It's the middle of

hed up with her good hand and touched her chee

nted to her swollen hand, offering a fra

o Iris's other arm, adjusting the flow rate carefully. She tucked the thin, scratchy hospital bla

he ward, Iris stared blankly at

actually enough to make her cry. She had endured fa

ully constructed walls of strength had finally shattered. The kindness of a str

eatest need, Jayson had abandoned her to run to Fawn. Whether it was a flat tire, a fam

point a long time ago; she j

gside Jayson, relying on him after her parents died, and the last eight years loving

all that youthful infatuation, had

ightless, yet every drop felt like a thousand pounds smashing in

tment for a lifetime. The bucket was

ris reached for her phone on the bedside table. She opened her chat with Jayson. The last messa

keyboard for a second befor

s bre

to dissolve into hysterical sobs, to feel the world ending. Instea

o words, like stepping out of a suffocating

s, fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, the steady beep

er broke and her vitals stabilized, she checked herself o

ic doors just sliding open to reveal the bright afternoon sun,

Her uncle's family had taken her in, and ever since, she had lived

e, her tone flat. "Au

our cousin Anthony isn't happy with his current job. He got into a huge fight with his boss yesterday and quit

nior manager position will do for now. You and Jayson are getting married next month anywa

voice was cut off by Iri

Jayson. We are no

uld almost hear the gears grinding in Patty's head b

pouting?" Patty shrieked. "Are you just making up lies because you don

ckles turning white. "No. Jayson and I are

ou with Anthony

demands for an explanation, Iris hung

ide. Everywhere she looked, the space suffocated her. The expensive modern art, t

d to be here for another second. Every breath

he closet and began to pack. Her mov

es, a few books, and her laptop. She left behind all the expensive jewelry, the designer bags

r uncle's house into the dorms, and later rented her

ed she move in, claiming he wanted to take care of her. She had given up her lease, t