memories. I pulled out a large cardboard box and sta

n for me at a carnival. The first paintbrush he ever bought

rence to be by his side. I learned to manage his medications, to cook the bland, sterile meals his immune system could handle. I even h

n. It was a reminder of a love

The photos curled, the faces melting away. The keychain plastic bu

, the hope I had for our future, it all turned to smoke and dr

all a lie? Or had the man who made those promises simply died on th

care what happened to him, or to

on the wall and ripped off t

gettin

pped his arms around me from behind, his chin re

l. I forced myself to remai

my voice carefully ne

was off. "You've been quiet la

ine, A

low apology. "But Diana... she's so fragile. I feel this o

astic smile on my lips. "Of cou

missing the irony. "Exactly. I knew you'd ge

sed. We're going to my grandf

. Another public par

tant. And I want

rop. A placeholder until Diana wa

ved, Diana was surrounded. She was wearing a stunning vintage gown that I knew for a fact

strength and grac

sses, Arthur shot forwar

d smile. "It's nothing, rea

champagne flute from her hand. "Gavin wouldn

then land

loud enough for everyone nearb

were on me. This wasn't a reque

of wine, fussing over me, making me herbal tea with his own hands. That memory wa

ss from him. I downed it in one gu

ime, Arthur would intercept the glass meant for

lights of the ballroom blurred. The faces of the guests morphed

aning heavily against the railing. My stomach lurched, and a wave of nausea wash

tress had made

find some water when I heard th

rthur asked Diana, his

iana whimpered. "I just wanted her to feel

r for you... it's the only thing that make

It wasn't about guilt. It was intentional. It was a

ttern on his chest. "Gavin had a tattoo... right here. A small

rthur said, h

t if it were... it would

en I heard Arthur's voice, f

o that f

the sound of something sharp tearing th

open his shirt, revealing the smooth skin over his heart where a small, el

gged edge of the

d out, though her eyes w

, through the symbol of his love for me. Blood welled up, dark and thick, dripp

agged gasp. "Now, this heart o