The Thirty-Eighth Divorce's End

chest and face not as a splash

dy recoiling, the chair tipping backward. I struck the

ation-warped and stretched, receding to a distant hum. Through a shimmeri

ror

She grabs his arm, her own face streaming

t you see? It's her fault I crashed my car! It's

Ilene's sobbing face. The old, familiar battle played out in h

r face in his chest. "Take me away from here, Eth

my skin screaming, my vision constricting to a narrow tunne

and carries her out of the res

s took me completely was the cold, stick

ummed together, and it took a great effort to pry them open a crack. The world above was a blurred expanse of white ceiling tiles and the translucent form of an intrav

ou gave us quite a scare. You have some nas

t feel

ried. Your father just stepped out to get some coffee. Oh, and a man identifying as your

ashed in my mind. A knot of iron formed i

me on th

," I say, my vo

before she can say anything,

d, his hair is a mess, an

He rushes to my bedside. "Don't say things

e my hand, but

liar excuse on his lips. "She's just not well. S

m so sorry, Rory.

ed for so long, and I feel nothing bu

?" I say, my voice flat. "The on

's no

game of divorce and remarriage, of my pain

ut it's stronger tha

ke care of her. She ob

words. "Rory, are you still angry? I know I me

the wall. "She was holding a knife, Rory," he said, his voice hoarse. "What else co

sterile air between us. "Another five years? Ten? Wi

lls s

spers, the same words he has sa

es. It used to make me feel sympat

feels heavy, as if it we

per back. "Yo

e words I should have said years ago

pen my mouth, h

treaked face fills the screen. He

be right back! Why are you with her

won't eat anything until you come back.

ar mask of frustration and re

. Calm down.

ans down to kiss my forehe

ys softly. "I'll be back lat

Later tonight. After he's tucked Ilen

still pressed to his ear, his voice a lo

s shut, leavin

and stare at th

the empty room, "that you owe her

e either of you

Ethan Bruce, you and