nt to a nascent life, was crushed without a second thought. He tosse

flat, devoid o

e the pr

s hit her like a physical blow, freezing the blood in her veins. She lun

the sound raw and des

shred of dignity. "I'll sign anything. A waiver for child support, for inher

of profound irritation crossed his features. He yanked his arm free from her g

children as leverage," he said, his voice drippin

about a dirty, generational hatred she was only now beginning to understan

she shot back, her voice trembling with newfound rage, "it can

d, his thumb pressing hard against her lips, grinding them again

, her eyes meeting his without flinching. "I'm ending this," she said,

e in the world. He closed the distance between them in a

r head, trapping her. The clean, sharp scent of cedar

ing against her ear. His voi

nds when I

intently at the floor, pretending he was invisi

e doctor, his voice once again cold and comman

outstretched in a gesture of support.

she said, her

r spine ramrod straight. Her unnatural composure, her de

l gown. She took it, her knuckles

er reflection in the mirror-at her pale face, her bruised neck, her flat stomach. The

ve the operating

ridor. He lit a cigarette, the flare of the lighte

inhaling deeply. Blue-white smoke curl

c, he couldn't hide the slight, almost impercept