inkled paper beneath me. I was on an examination table. A doctor with kind eyes and

tive, Ms. Miller.

ath hitched. The ghost of agonizing pain, of a cold penthouse, of my brother's broken body, and the c

eliver the baby. I want her to watch

death sentence pressing on my brain. My brother, Tom, was safe, probably in hi

l real. I

in scan. There's a mass, Sarah. It's a rare form of tumor, quite aggressive. We need to

ieve in David Chen, the man I had loved and financially supported for three years, the man who told me he was dying of a ra

ry my child? Your money belongs

felt like he was in the room. This time, there would be no sac

o

e, my voice steady and devoid of the h

an abo

but he couldn't possibly understand the weight of those four w

the last three years. Three years of pouring every dollar I earned from my art, every ounce of my compassion, into a black hole named David Chen. I sold painti

ncée, Chloe Davis. The realization didn't bring fresh pain, only a cold, hard clarity. The

He looked healthy, vibrant, not like a man battling a debilitating illness. He was holding several expensive shopping bag

illing, controlled rage. I needed to hear it again, to confirm the nigh

loe's voice was a whiny, entitled drawl. "My therapy f

with me. "Sarah's a fool. She'd sell her own blood for me. She just needs a little

ed. "You promised you woul

ismissive and cold. "She's just a walking bank account. And soon, w

r fate in my mind. The last flicker of any lingering dou

was David. I let it buzz, my hand shaking slightly as I composed myself. I

reach you," his voice was laced with that familia

, David," I said, my v

ng, Sarah. I need you. The new treatment protocol is

e been frantic, already calculating which commissions I could rush, whic

s," I said, keep

ell the gallery piece?" he asked,

t the money." I took a sl

hear the gears turning in his head, calculating thi

e final blow to his

ing an aborti

nally spoke, his voice was tight, not with concern

it's for the best. With my health, we couldn

, no regret. Only a

ources. The clinic needs the deposit for my treatment by the end of the week. I'll se

I would save. He was already movin

ds of love and dependence. "I need you, Sarah. You're my only hope. We'll get th

David," I said,

The naive, self-sacrificing artist was gone. In her place was a woma