y mind, a constant, looping horror film. I had gone

desperate attempt. After I had declared our marriage over, I didn't just walk away.

Ethan finally emerged hours later, flushed with

verything I said. I was angry. Just... help him. I'm on my knees. I wi

f pity and disgust. It was the look you gi

chest. She saw me and her eyes narrowed for a split second

her tone syrupy sweet. "You look exh

ect because she's stressed. She' s creating a crisis to get your attention." She looked at me, a cruel glint in h

anipulative, hysterical wife and him as the victim of my emotional

dge passing sentence. "You're unstable, Sarah. You're weaponizing ou

e the building. They were watching, their faces a mixture of curiosit

ng. "Take Leo to the pediatrician. Get yourself a ther

us. Completely and

dead yet. It was wounded,

"Not the whole interface. Just the handheld scanner.

cker of something-maybe guilt, ma

e, we can't do that, Sarah. The prototypes are proprieta

use. "She's right. The

ng down my face. "A waiver. A non-disclosure agree

gave a tiny, almost imper

h. "Fine," he said, as if grant

tched me with a triumphant smirk she barely bothered to hide. T

l, sleek device. It looked like a portable scanner

full release, holding the university and

said, reac

o had been "examining" a loose shoelace, straightened u

y me!" she

e concrete floor with a sickening crack. The screen went

s shattered into a million pie

mouth in mock horror. "Oh, Ethan, I am

. There was no anger in his eyes. Only relief. He

their faces-his relieved, hers smu

ifying emptiness. The love I had for him, the hope I had for

to be, something new and hard began to

beginning o

and walked away, leaving them standing