dy wa

but I saw the pale, waxy look of my own skin. I saw my hair, once shiny, now dull and sp

died alone, drained of life, in a small apartment my billionai

r this was, floated near that ceiling, a h

Leo, finally realize

s only six. He' d curl up beside my body, his sm

n. It's snowing," h

s patienc

voice trembling. He pushed my s

n't move. I

, so much like Ethan's. He tried ag

cream, to tell him I was here, to hold him. But my form wa

e emergency phone I had insisted we keep. He dragged a stool to the counter and

fath

yed Ethan would answer. I prayed he w

s sharp, impatient. It c

ice was a tiny sq

faint sound of music and laug

Where's your mother?" Ethan

lip quivering. "She won't wake up.

laugh. "She's always sleeping. Or complai

ached. He didn't belie

Leo insisted, his voice ris

to pay the heating bill with the money I g

ease, Daddy. Come and

ese games. You tell that delusional mother of yours that if she wants to

Dad

t dead. Etha

sion and despair. The hope in his eyes flickered and di

the thin coat he wore day and night. He pulled his coat tighter around himself an

th tears he was trying to hold back. "Daddy is just

ers he found in the cupboard. He went to the kitchen, his small feet shuffling on the cold

e. He carefully placed one of

te his own small piece, chewing

ched in sorrow, watching my livi

ime. A time before Sarah Jenkins, Ethan' s chi

, then four, was giggling, and Ethan was holding a long, beautiful peacock feather. It

," Ethan had whispered to Leo,

of the feather. I scrunched my face, trying

t workin

tickling my neck. I finally broke, laughing and pulling

as so clear,

eyes, though filled with sadness, now held a

feat

elieved it was magic. He be

pered to himself.

e, a new determination ha

I'll go to Daddy's house and get the