ppropriate given the tempest inside me. My fingers shook, holding the mug of tea Sam

m said, sliding onto the couch beside

amber liquid. "Can't

he twenty-six previous times hadn't been

him?" Sam asked as she t

now." My voice was hoarse a

e coffee table with a sound that reverberated through t

ete

o hear what he ha

the room began to spin. "What could he possibly say, Sam

ng back. Her smug smile when she saw me standing there. The de

thing," Sam said, fol

my mouth. The bile rolled up, only to go

third time. This time,

nds on it. She read the screen and raised her eyebrows. "She

s distraught?" I snatched the phone and threw i

seen me mad before, but no

d your mother y

th my husband?" The word 'husband' tasted bitte

oo tight soon. This is what five years of my life had been reduced to hid

l. For the headach

and returned with a glass of wa

sedat

dow. My socks were still wet from running through puddles to get to Sa

s now?" Sam

burned my eyelids, but I blinked them back

'll remain in here as long

one disappeared. The s

nights at the office. The sudden trips. The way Jessica always wanted to kn

ed my shoulders. "Th

to click into place. "Five years without bearing him an

t is you," Sam said as he tightened his grip. "What Mic

atigue washing through me. "An

o sleep. Tomorrow, we'll

time I close my eyes,

et over both our laps. "Well, then, we'll stay up all n

ice cream. I w

ly. "You're going to disso

I do?" The questi

... five years

ed at a loose thread on the blanket. "My life is

ce firm, "Your life isn't over.

me direction. 27 year old, soon-t

have your design skills. Start your own busi

ing. For five long years, I'd been Aria Walton, the w

you need," Sam repeated. "Wh

a strange calm settling over me. The shock was w

e words solidifying my resolve. "I w

eyes. "I'll help you find the be

e became stronger now. "

lways a fi

reen cracked, but I could still read Michael's messag

nger hovering over the reply butt

orning," I said. "I'm goi

ome wit

. This is something

ing against the glass so lightly now. In the

you," Sam said. "The Wal

ld and determined hardening w

ched and sobbing, I felt a flicker of something like strength. Tomorrow, I'd go

wed myself to take one more night of gri