silent for

lighting a cigarette, the soft scrat

d to hear from me, whic

lly said, his vo

ur... situation. Mark's a luc

memory of that gallery opening where he'd spent mor

ky man," I said

a th

her

liste

ing out," I said, the wo

ullaby'. But it's not his

e personal meaning, the way Mark and J

he part abou

ain, a wound too dee

version," I said, the plan

nder your label. I want to show t

so long I thought he

ous game, Sarah,"

g on their label. They will protect h

em try,

thing left

id, a new ton

cisive, p

nd you get out of that city. I'm sending a car for you as soon as you're discharged. You're co

hed over me, so stro

" I wh

t, Sarah,

hind. That life is over.

room, at the IV drip in my arm,

was alre

moment I heard

eady,"

the ti

a blur of quiet heali

ome back like

ent

ling better? The nurse said you were sleeping a lot.' and 'Jes

a small, callous

wn rising star that he didn'

ce was acceptance,

be discharged, he

uge bouquet of cheap roses, a c

ed, his voice boomi

ior! I have a su

, pulling a gaudy diamo

eras zo

d, disgustingly public p

brand me as his supportive fiancée

ur love, your sacrifice..." he began

finish, a commotion

her face pale, her hand presse

ped, her eyes w

don't fe

his feet i

which clattered to

ing pale and ignored in the h

ica's side, scoopin

e cried, his voice filled with a genui

with happiness for you," she whispered, he

ulative performance, and

demanded a doctor, his grand pro

rantic concern, leaving me alone with the camera crew, t

ith a flicker of pity before shru

ng on the floor, a symbol of

time since the s

, hard

de my decision