iquid hits my

lling backward off my chair. I hit the floor h

f pain, I see Ethan jump to his

ror

She grabs his arm, her own face streaming

you see? It' s her fault I crashed my car! It' s

r to Ilene' s sobbing face. The old, familiar battle play

r face in his chest. "Take me away from here, Eth

f soup, my skin screaming, my vision going dark. I see

and carries her out of the res

arkness takes me completely is the

l of antiseptic and t

ital.

daged. A dull, throbbing

urse is checki

You gave us quite a scare. You have some nasty seco

t feel

my pillow. "He was here all night, pacing the halls.

way flashes in my mind. My heart cl

me on th

," I say, my vo

before she can say anything,

ed, his hair is a mess, a

He rushes to my bedside. "Don't say things

e my hand, but

liar excuse on his lips. "She's just not well. S

m so sorry, Rory.

ed for so long, and I feel nothing bu

e?" I say, my voice flat. "The o

's no

game of divorce and remarriage, of my pain

t it' s stronger than

ke care of her. She ob

y words. "Rory, are you still angry? I know I m

as threatening to kill herself, Rory! Sh

"This is just for show. You know that. Y

longer. Her doctor says she' s getting better. Once she' s ful

sterile air between us. "Another five years? Ten? Wi

lls s

spers, the same words he has sai

es. It used to make me feel sympath

t feels heavy, like it'

per back. "Yo

e words I should have said years ago

pen my mouth, h

-streaked face fills the screen.

be right back! Why are you with her

won't eat anything until you come back.

ar mask of frustration and re

. Calm down.

ans down to kiss my forehe

ys softly. "I'll be back lat

r tonight. After he' s tucked Ilene

still pressed to his ear, his voice a lo

s shut, leavin

and stare at th

the empty room, "that you owe her

e either of you

Ethan Bruce, you and