to an urgen

y arm. The burn was bad, a mess

d, her voice full of sympathy.

k, bitter smile

from the hallway. Kristyn'

was so heroic. You' re my

ive whisper. "Why don't you call me

oice, low and indulging. "

i

years, called me his wife. It was always "Ava." I had thoug

worthy of

led out of the clinic, paid

r me in the living room,

you been?"

I said, not

he bandages. "God, Ava, it' s that bad?"

y. "Kristyn' s was

n' t you be more understanding? I have a histo

e one with a blistering burn. I was the one he aba

lent and hot. He didn't care ab

d. The live-in nur

free soon, Chandler,"

was distracted, alread

me. He never

he said, not looking up from his screen.

the car, wearing a tiny bikini th

va how to swim," she said with a brigh

d be bored," Chandler ex

was almost funny. This wasn'

arty, and watched them. They splashed and laughed in the waves, his hands lingering on her w

call. He walked down the

the water and walked

," she said, her smil

he grabbed my arm and dra

to," I said, tr

into the shallows, then, with a sudden, viciou

ooded my nose and mouth. I th

oice was a distorted, monstrous sound above the wate

ck spots danced in m

. I gasped for air, c

r. "Do you really think he' ll care if yo

nce still alive in me. He wouldn' t. He

truly evil sig