t me before

lf in the throat like punishment. My shoes struck the linoleum in quick, unev

ng at the door. Her eyes softened, the kind of l

it. I pushe

silence that howls in your ears because of what's missing

ere sh

ely it almost mocked me. Her hands were folded neatly, as though someone had prepared her for re

smiled were frozen now. Her eyes, the ones that alwa

ees b

her side, dropping into the chair and reaching for her hand. Col

aking. "I came. I ran. I was right t

hey slid uselessly down the ridges of her knuckles. My forehead dropp

now how long-before a

entle with pity. "Miss... should I c

t kind of sickness. Their judgment. Their disdain. T

heel of my palm, my chest heaving. "Don't tell them. Not my

than I wanted to admit. Finally, she nodded and slipped away,

ine. My tears dripped onto her skin. "It's just you an

r creak

, it wasn

man st

is voice was low

ging a tremblin

's attorney. She left instructions

tightene

"She was very clear. I

rp and suffocating. Still, I nodde

allow grief. Mr. Wells placed his case on the table, opened it, and withdrew an envelope sealed with red wax. My stom

l. The flap gave way with a soft tear

al pages, written in her l

t const

an to

rest C

h, how I wish I could still be there to wipe your tears. But I know you,

my garden with scraped knees, sobbing as though your heart had broken. But before the bandages were even tie

g woman should have to carry. And yet, you have carried them-with grace, with quiet cou

as once mine and your grandfather's-money, land, and property. But there is one condition, my love. You must remai

rom your parents, from his family, from anyone who might try to take what should be yours. Think of thes

u always endure. And when it ends, you will no longer be

will still paint, still garden, still read. Promise me you will g

you, and I will alw

ll my

an

, swallowed by fresh tears. My hands sh

shoulders shook as another sob slipped free.

with a soft click. "She wanted

me was endless, but beneath it-beneath the sharp,

planted with

e city whole. Streetlamps cast halos of pale yellow and the sky above

The letter was still in my hand, its paper damp with

ith it the faint scent of night jasmine from somewhere unseen.

t held. "Four years. I'll endure every thing he'll throw at me, ever

curling around me

ts marble walls, its cold shadows. I didn't dread it the way I once had. Not

be

le

utched the letter tighter. And for the first

rs is longer tha