he wouldn't come home. He would go to Emily, who would soothe his bruis

go. Not with him, but for herself. Chloe and Jessica agreed to join her. It felt like a

ad intensified, and the press of the crowd made her feel dizzy and nauseous. She had a rare genetic condition, a type of severe vertigo tha

e for some air, Mark' s phone call came. It was from an unkno

you? Tell her Emily had an accident. She fell and h

nts you to know he's abandoning you at the gallery he promi

Of course. Emily needed him. The damsel was in distress. "T

had promised Chloe before hanging up.

The room started to spin. The chatter of the crowd became a deafening roar. Bla

fingers were clumsy, uncooperative. The little bottle of pills slipped fro

lf losing consciousness. With a last, desperate effort, she managed to grab the bottle, fumbled the cap open, and dry-swa

d marble floor, leaning against the sculpture, feeling utterly alone. She watched other couples walk by, la

back. He didn't ca

orning, looking tired but pleased with himself

sorry at all. "Emily' s ankle was sprained prett

voice flat. "A bad one. I collapsed on the floor

any flicker of concern,

ough his hair. "You're fine, aren't you? Emily was the one w

king it clear who his priority was. Any remaining part of her that might

. She felt a quiet sense of resignation. There wa

with you?" he burst out, his voice rising. "Are you trying to make me feel guilty? Are

blaming her for her own illness, accusing her of faking a medical crisis for attention, all because it competed with