el

's face vanished, replace

snatched the divorce papers from my

with manufactured sobs. "This is all my fault

with tears. "I love you, Jackson! I love

"Please, don't leave him. I'll go. I'll disappear.

l performance, wo

trying to pull her into his arms, b

us, so shamelessly manipulative, t

the cold, damp asphalt of th

on. "Hit me. Slap me. Do whatever you need to do to feel bett

the hem of my pants, her

d, Hazel. A boy

shaking, but as she looked up at me, her face hidden from Jackson and Colton, her expression

med a silent

nce, of swallowed pride, of gritted teeth, all

ow growl. I tried to pull my leg a

rp cry, she let go, stumbling backwar

even to

loded across my cheek. Jac

. Red and black spots danced in my vision. Throug

ad

protest. It was a cry

faces contorted with identical expressions of hatred and disgust. Not for wh

nd. It was all so pathetic. So predictable. T

g beside her, his face a mask of frantic conce

ng her wrist. "Does it hurt here? I know

him, the care I had taught him, was now being used to t

is voice thick with emotion as he helped her

ing less than three pounds. The doctors had given him a 50/50 chance. Jackson's family,

, willing him to live. I promised the universe, God, anyone who was listening,

ends, my hobbies, my very self. I endured Jackson's growing contempt, his affairs, hi

as looking at me as

" he spat, his eyes burning wit

lared, his voice ringing with t

wife," he added, ge

whispering, "You're the best mommy in the whole world." I remembered him standing up to a bully in ki

oy was