f the interface reflecte

ol Chimera?" a synthesized vo

y audible even to herself. "Simulated d

it. The f

sharp and deep,

el. E

saved, the man she had loved

ad risked everything t

art, but the Sarah they knew, the Sarah they

st making i

cation pinged

Countdown: Ten days. Prepar

da

d over her, a weary calm

rly days, before the

ible accident, his body br

er small savings dwindling to ke

s kidney

one of hers. "We're a match," the do

e was h

ery, his eyes filled with a lov

is voice thick with emotion. "Twice. I

eliev

very waking moment into him, into his t

birth was

st it, her single ki

hild, an heir to the e

r their son, their bea

was a devoted wife, a loving mother.

e slithered back i

eart, newly divorced a

, his arm around her, his smile reassuring. "You an

a goo

just lied

s started

s arm around her at a company ga

lap, opening an expensive toy Sarah coul

ever truly loved me." "Ethan calls m

shattering the carefully con

t was her foundatio

the calendar on

he date ten d

day as Sa

eace settled over he

ined yowl cut thr

cat, streaked past her,

ed into the kitchen, his

ed, holding up his hand where a th

g Buddy again, poki

an grabbed a heavy textbook f

sickening thud. The cat cried out

s voice was sh

as now limping, trying to

"It' s your fault! Yo

flying to her side where a dull ache from her rem

filled with a cruelty that mirrored Michael' s dismissiveness. "I