A

at helping her would

pale under the harsh lights of the hospital. The IV drip in her arm made her look even more vulnerable, but I knew that there was a fi

was going

u?" I said to her, voice forced into rest

ng for the trap. She was intellig

he said, fold

tance, it will cost you." My lips tugged into my signatu

band and her betrayer of a sister had taken it all away from her-her home, her art, even her name. I knew before she ope

e. Just forget it. Thank you though..." she muttered, shaking her

e, but there was doubt the

ened. My chanc

sing through my life. I had no right to get involved, but for some bizarre reason, I couldn't let

fore I could choke back the words. Even I knew that sounded p

realized how suggest

going slightly wide, mout

h

behind it. "That's not what I'm saying," I growle

g her head in disbelief. "I

g a burst of annoyance, but I di

ssues behind. But my mind would not allow it. My eyes continued to scan her face, my tho

s she resemble t

ind a veil of suffering. But it wasn't just the resemblance-it was how she gazed

o stay cold. This had no

atever sense of weakness had been accumulating in h

as worked up. Excellent,

I said, tilting my head slightl

r body tensing as if bracing as if to take

could catch it. Her suspicion was funny-most people jum

in a louder tone, moving closer to her,

ght actually hit me. Her eyes flashed with fi

," I f

ath, obviously annoyed, bu

head as I stepped back. "Get some rest," I told her,

trode out of the room, but I could feel

ir, my fists clenched on my helmet a litt

he call button. The phone did not ring twice before

is?" Samuel's voice w

ne off the list of many favors you owe me," I spoke

hone. "What do you want now?"

ow morning. I'll be by to pick

h laugh. "You? Divorce paper

ood. "Don't fucking pus

"You do realize there's a legal process for s

before h

nd muttered to myself, "Just this once, mother.

to back

jacket as my phone beeped on the nightstand. I did not

the blaming, the choking sense of responsibility I had never volunteered for. The man never called to make plans for anything except to

it unan

tension in my chest. The drive to Samuel's was rather too long, with only the occasional growl of

d. He had the look of a man who had just risen from bed-shirts rumpled, hair disheveled, and his

re I even had a chance to cut the en

y were a blur before slamming the folder shut and th

es. "I swear, Zane, one day you'

always answer

ry to interpret. I just nodded and changed gears. "Thanks."

n my hands. It was tim

at the reception desk, signing what appeared to be discharge papers. The nurse spoke in a lo

t couldn't be her

ted my

but there was a resolute clench to her lips, as if she was holding herself together by sheer force of will. I sho

g out of bed?" My voice was

shocked, then quickly cover

d the nurse. "What did you just say

n before replying cautiously, "It's not an

cut in icily, her eyes slitting as she drew the pa

ed closer, speaking softly. "Kidney disease,

Because, like she said,

a serious one? In one quick movement

ut I held them away from her, reading what was

d the

was

re!" she grumble

e here without mentioning you had a medical condit

esn't matter to you. You've done e

otioned toward the spindly hospital gown clinging to her body. "I don't care how yo

n me and turned and walk

at me. "You

And I ju

ouldn't tell. She was likely counting how

oved the papers aside on the cou

shall we?" If only she