death sentence delivered in a casual w

t was clawing its way up my throat. My body went numb, a terrifying, floating sensation, as if my sou

my chin, but they offered no warmth against the profound chill that had settled deep in my bones. I lay there, feig

as a masterpie

tray laden with my favorite foods. H

?" he asked, his voice soft and caring. "L

e of his smile, and I felt nothing but a vast, empty abyss. The man I

ed to say, the word

id, stroking my hair. "I

son, the boy I had given a part of my own body to save

ice thick with fake emotion. "People are so cruel. Bu

l. I just nodded, unable to speak. The betrayal from my son was a unique

ert, I told him I couldn't sleep and went down to the livin

e driveway. Not in the garage, but down the side, h

s Sca

ter, the patio door slid open, and Robert stepped out to meet her.

ssed her, a deep, passionate kiss filled with a familiarit

s

Scarlett. "He

, ruffling his hair. "

them, pulling them into a grote

satisfaction as he looked from Scarlett to Li

n't just being replaced. I had already been erased. I was a ghost i

as a pain beyond tears, a hollowing out of my very being. Every memory, every laugh, every moment of shared love was a lie, a carefully staged scene in their long

o the house. I was in the kitchen, staring blankly at a cup of cold coffee,

nt?" she asked, her voi

wer. I just

d running a manicured finger along the marble countertop. "That kidney you so ge

letting the

But I told him, we're family, after all. Our

ching you debase yourself for him, while he was safe and sound with me, watching

hands clenched into

he decided to escalate. She walked over and stood

d, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial w

her sickly sweet per

the old-fashioned sutures, not the clean surgical glue. He said