. Evans' s off

r appointment next week. For th

st

T-cell

esc

nly

you. I' ll

s runni

y health, but

g more insistent

ecoming mor

d in their t

cialist' s office for more blood

d, my name

en I s

and B

consultation ro

ility

mmered agai

dn' t s

trying to bec

oice sharp, carrying eas

It' s déclassé. What if the chi

mon

what I w

ing placating, his a

know that. Her features are pe

baby, looking just like you, just like us. And

their

pos

ut this waiting is unbearable. And make sure

your pretty little head about it.

to my presence, a portrait

to scream

shaking, as a nurse

uldn' t stand bein

eting an old friend

friends left he

myself drawn to t

s address once, in passing

tone on the Up

mo

street, hidden in t

ed warmly f

es moving behin

, faint

sounds o

stak

mach h

y alley, vomiting unt

is sounds, her sounds, were a bru

with hi

"project," wa

y in the cold bed of our a

ous DM on

ge. Just

ala. Her in a glittering

ked like

for the ages. #Po

ano

yacht, champagne flu

gs. Curat

al warfare, as the o

rutally

howing me

ation. She was

, but the images were

r dawn, reeking of

lide into bed

sleep, my

as all apologies a

een so distant.

small withdrawal I' d made

okay with

lways subtle,

. "I' m fine, Lia

n hidden, swallowing it quic

escalated h

at my favorite bakery, the o

oup of equally so

is your little place? Ho

so like mine, lingered on

y signature pastries,

tion. A bit... unrefine

ends ti

. You don' t belong. Y

ground to swa

ed my dist

re you eating enough?

tomach, a possessive,

for br

y hidden pill bottle

ics. Str

it up, his e

this fo

. a stomach bug. My d

"You' ve been having a lo

as sharp,

mes he' d controlled me

ng my fri

ing my

dependen

as care, as

posse

ed an old vitamin bott

me ta

ing b

ied, my hea

d, his suspicion m

w he was

ard him on the

nts. And see if she' s been to any

d been waitin

ell therapy program at the Boston Cancer Institute. Your preliminary co

amir

A tangib

, quickly followed by

o get

ntic, restless energy

ch on the antique wood

s

t there

the sounds from B

ith her. Wild

become... perfun

a mark of their lif

of his

der love to me for y

treated my body

st was a g

cept

e betrayal. The

only pat

eaving everything,

r than this