Boot

had to brace myself against the kitchen count

owed with a sudden, sharp concern. But it wasn't

asked, his voice low and urgent.

oid. We had been together for three years, engaged for one, but every time the conversation of children arose, he would shut it down with a chil

d my body, my heart, useless for his grand plan. The disgust I felt was a physical thing, craw

eared into the bedroom and returned a moment later with a small box. He thrust i

voice leaving no room for a

insane. I told

s like chips of ice. "There is no room for

he words we

ers of this new, terrifying reality, "I could ju

his is? Some pathetic attempt to secure your position?" He grabbed my shoulders, his fingers digging in painfully. "If you are pregnan

entanglement." It was about keeping his precious asset pure. All those times he' d ins

e trembling but firm.

hissed,

the boxes, lining up the five plastic sticks on the counter like a firing squad. He stood ove

nched. One by one, they came back negative. The relief that washed over his face was not for me, no

instantly back to one of loving concern. It w

air. "You just need to listen to me. As long as you're a goo

tear tracing a cold path down my cheek. My heart, the very organ he w

a pre-planned outing with Kenisha-a trip to a scenic mountain lookou

g the valley. She was wearing a delicate white dress, her face a perfect

athy. "Daryl, can you help me? I want to sit

aid, rushing to her side. He

ed without a word, watching as he settled Kenisha into my previous seat, tucking a blanket around her legs with a

h a malicious triumph. She reached into her purs

she cried out, he

ectly at my face. I jerked back, but it was too late. A sharp, s

aw, piercing shriek of agony. Because the