RING OF POWER

nutes. Alphonsus's hands were

and for what? To sign divorce papers? To listen

hat something was actually wrong. That

had been different this tim

ade a decision and was

o the parking l

ead of two. Alphonsus recognized h

ly twice: once on their wedding day to take her to the photogr

ad mentioned cost more

gripping the steering wheel, trying to u

't ready

was about to walk into an apartment with two

ed the sta

on the couch with her mother. Her father, Richard Castel

th gray hair and the kind of tan that sugg

d had maintained a facade of civility, the way wealthy people did when th

ng but as a statement of fact. "We need to t

. Her mother, Patricia, had the same expression: carefully neutral, th

ecting this," A

" Richard interrupted. "Vivia

told us that despite working multiple jobs, you ca

him. The apartment suddenly felt

astellan

rty-two years old," Richard continue

ob at a marketing firm. S

and instead she's been spending years watching you

erstand what

ing a hand on her husband's arm, but it

said, his eyes fixed on Alphonsus. "Do you und

sus felt something hardening in his chest, somet

" he said. "I've done my best to provide for her and for

short, bitter sound. "Your best is

this apartment with wat

crifice her entire future because you'r

ll wasn't lo

chard said, and his tone changed; it

going to file

ou're going to do so without making this

sue alimony or require you

rous," Alphons

Richard stepped closer. "But I want t

reconcile, you need to understand that will only happen if

eal job. That me

with a life that reflects her actual wor

er than her husband's, "then perhaps one day things cou

at Vivian. Finally,

in her expression, b

already grieved something be

hat might make them understand that he was trying, that his st

hrough the tensio

n't recognize, but it had the prefix of the hospital whe

vatore from County Hospital. I'm calli

turned away from Vivian and her

she alright? Did

right now, but we have a billing i

equires an expensive medication th

e claim because they're callin

, her condition will det

asked. He could hear the

unds per dose. She needs five doses to c

son. If that payment isn't made by toni

phonsus looked at his hands. His weddi

time do I ha

ine PM. After that, we can'

d at the clock on

and," he sai

nt isn't made tonight, we ma

s repeating it because she understood that Al

im, the apartment was quiet. Ric

g for him to sign the papers, to accept th

s mother was

, and he saw something flicker across his father-in-law'

was something happening tha

a phone call," Alp