ANA
if my body was afraid
head felt heavy, my throat dry. When I finally looked around, white walls
spi
ond, I hoped it
rushed back-Lucas, the
clenched p
corner of the room. His face looked tired, worried, gui
met, he took a
.." he wh
sed my
y but firmly. "Please.
fr
e. I could feel my heart beating in my ears. I
e," he said quietly.
he did the
th. My hands trembled under the blanket. I stared at the
ck broke th
ld answer, th
sa wal
tightened
confident. If anyone walked into the room without context,
wardly for a moment,
feeling?" she
augh
oken laugh that s
ow?" I asked, turning m
dn't mean for things
red at
an who held my ha
slept in my bed
I called
?" I asked
ooked
Vanessa?"
ng pause before
d," she said. "It
my head
sn't my q
d. "Almost
art dr
yea
. A year of phone calls
clinics... when you prayed with me... when you told me to be p
with tears-but
" she
sliced t
er feel guil
tated. "A
fi
ter?" I
y. "After a while, I realize
fully towa
oes that
u were always strong, always in control. You d
at her in
yed me because
not what
ed. "That's exactl
Ariana. The company, the respect, the pe
o steal my husband
," she snapped sudde
om went
de me crack-but not in
smi
l, tire
ly. "Not that you slept with my husband. But
ace fa
old you my fears. I cried on your s
amed down h
him," she
did
uickly. "Lucas deserve
ped-but I kept
this is about," I
. "You can't g
hoed painfull
ce creeping back into her voice
ed her c
at moment,
insec
jealo
r a life that
as," I said slowly. "
dn't re
ntinued, "is louder t
ed. "What are yo
inst the pillow, s
ing,"
widened. "
day," I
e the victim here, but life do
straight
sn't reward th
, anger flashing
coldly. "But don't stand in t
nd walked tow
she left, I
ness
pau
usband," I said softly
without an
oor cl
ceiling again, my
ed under the blanke
burned i
neither of
the machine beep steadily beside
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