, not mine, whis

k. With her.

, then a flash of a pristi

dark

p, heart

a d

eal, clinging to

off. Work. I neede

air always sm

t and quiet

was my sanctu

usual calm

zzed in t

ews? Dr. Van

ce? The Jul

arting today. Chief o

eath

li

be. Not aft

er how

r, heading to th

here

ation, talking to Dr. Pete

embered, or maybe

shorter, lines aro

d... for

ld. So

r. Hayes. Come meet our new

an t

arm for me, were

e, a brief, imper

was a low rumble, devoid of an

y hand felt clammy as we

I couldn't speak

, shattered in a ster

hospital hosted a wel

loe, my best friend and hea

your face, Evie.

sional

ing court, char

de him,

ia Ste

ring a white dress t

n from m

a flourish. "And this is Miss Vic

an

me like a p

ilted. My

me back. He' d co

as no longer a whisper. I

forums and grou

to Victoria Sterling! The

together. Boston' s

gh-end event company, S

made in society heaven.

hing I

, stumbling out into

ick, hol

He had moved on,

ing up the pieces of t

l apartment, the si

ut an old wooden box fro

d in the dim lig

of a past I tho

idency. His arm around me, my head on his

t the bottom, a wor

simple braided band, f

every day. U

rembled as I

was soft, mo

the careful twists, the

s, sharp and painf

the goo

The ugly.

ld, just like th

I was saving his c

I dest

for a prestigious local res

e kept him h

ational fellowship, far more c

as groundbreaking. The national fellow

, in his work, mo

rant was holding him

did so

I thought

out a minor, unintentional protocol de

ight, easily corre

rant was di

vastated,

e – he' d won the

have bee

t was me who' d flagged his

s voice, usually so calm

rtment, the one we' d s

llowship was better for you

er for your idea of wha

at! Your work is too i

e, do you? You don'

anted to ensure you go

ehind my back? That' s not su

al. A lack of faith.

e my motive, o

him, that I thought he cou

brutal. Word

his bags t

Clinic, but a chasm h

isunderstand

of silenc

he wa

h h

terling. H

n box, the memorie

e warning. It

d follo

had f