to our small

e. "What did she mean, Ava? Ab

ep breath.

. About my first life, about my marri

e' d saved the plant but lost his mo

jealousy, her affair, an

gement party, with Chloe also reborn, determined

ng from disbelief to a dawning hor

r the next day. I repeated my story, my voic

rse with a sharp mind and k

cription painkillers after my birth, when she was supposedly suffe

from hazy childhood memories and my adult understanding in my first life

y. "Overdoses can be... co

, a thread connecting Sharon's greed to

e. They saw the truth in my

rong and reassuring. "We're wit

was a fortre

the storm that wa

lamed Mike, the stress, everyth

rove to the farmers' market and s

carefully grown vegetables, tore down my "

a frantic call from another vendo

acate the market manager, offe

on pleaded, avoiding my eyes.

said, my voice cold. "She destroyed

my waist. "Every cent, Sharon. Or we

rm, leaving no r

ked with dirt and tea

on David, he

to be mine! She stole

Another slip, another confirmation of her rebor

ived, stumbling, re

?" he slurred, looking at

rieked, turning her fury on h

f cowering, puf

zy!" he shouted, his words slurring but his anger clear. He publicl

ger finally cal

ay, still screaming t

realizing she couldn't control

ruin of my stall,

said. "And she won't

empts to destroy it, was built on a foundation far