immediately after the doct

ices hushed but carrying, pitied "poor

s, can you

must be d

nces, their clumsy condolences,

cold fur

grand perform

that evening, his knuckles bloody,

ing himself to injury as penance for "fai

choked out, sweat and tears mingl

rthy of an award. I felt no

om his self-inflicted "pe

ily on his assistan

, his arm around a young woman,

lo

subtly visible, a slig

mpassion. "This is Chloe. She' s a... a distressed young w

living room, our home, a spa

ulder. A flicker of triumph, quickly m

r hidden. She was here, in my hous