lished metal of the table reflected

lder across the table. It

is is your last c

hard and without emotion. I

ive." The words were stark, black ink on

o your family, you will cease to exist. We will arrange ev

file, my name, and felt noth

said, my voice steady. "

ebrow. He wasn't u

him straight in the eye. "Declare me dead. Publicly.

efore his professional mask slipped back

necess

understand this is irreversible. T

hing to com

ween us. He pushed a pen across the table. "Sign her

didn't shake. Ava Mitchell di

no longer a home. It was just a bui

I had ever excelled in, for Ben Carter. I loved him, or at least, I thoug

ed had pulled him from the wreckage of an office fire years

that had eaten my fami

oying presence. Ben was blind to it. He saw only the

by his father's adoration of Leah and Leah's sweet, manipulat

ough they weren't there. Her perfume lingered in the hallway. A framed

to last weekend. T

I hated heights, a lingering consequence of an old injury

said, his eyes not quite meet

cessful tech CEO, with his beautiful "sa

c. They laughed, their voices echoing in the open air. Leo cheered for the

ression full of a warmth I hadn't seen directed

voice impatient. "Stop just standing

I said, my voice

Don't be lazy. It's for Leo."

pes beside him, gave me a

efore. I can't put weight on it." The old break a

ng excuses to get out of family activities

voice piped up from beside me

He was just a child, parroting what he'd

And I felt a profound shift inside me. The part of me that had been f

voice clear and d

. "Oh, Ava, don't be a spoilsport. If you can't do it, I guess I'

all, cold smile touching

o, your Auntie Leah is

unclipped the useless harness from m

, his voice laced with fury. "Get

e with her own kids, rushed over. "A

said, my voice calm

Ben's angry shouts followed me, but they sounde

, I felt a strange sense of pea

d just finally