The Woman He Couldn't Break

that comes when you' ve hit rock bottom and the

I said, my voice

urprise in his eyes. He' d expe

ur adoption pap

erialized silently

, meeting Mark' s ga

l transit permit for Leo. I' d gone ba

n Thompson had helped me prepare. The o

the divorce papers. He still didn' t trul

ther piece of paper in

A trade. You sign for Ethan, I s

his signature on a burial document was just more dra

line authorizing the transit of Leo Johnson

onsent for him

gleaming with triumph.

oubt to celebrate, I looked

c box in my bag. I wasn' t go

hat paper, his utter oblivious

be a victory for Mark' s ignorance, or a fo

e. Always. His ashes,

ith me to Californi

khaven Children' s Memorial Gard

plot, I didn' t

stone. With a permanent marker Em

t L

g maple tree, its leaves j

. A small acknowledgment in the tow

real presence, was wi

around the university housing complex, showing off

w dress, a gi

th envy, some with disappro

a was his charming, widowed sister-in-law, bra

I was rapi

eps, packing a small box of Leo' s b

d, her smile

u." She held out an envelope. "It' s

parents wouldn' t se

th malice. This was

read it aloud, her voice carrying across the sm

our constant drama, your selfishness. You were always a difficult child. We tried our best, but some things

parents' love, designed to humiliate me, to

staring. I could

s masterpiece of

f Leo' s clothes tipped over, spilling t

voice low but clear. "My parents wou

"Sarah! How can yo

voice rising. "Swear on Etha

paled. Her eye

s were silen

o anything," she stammered. "

d, my voice ringing with conviction. "Just

er echoed in the distance. The sky,

en she seemed spoo

ent to appear, draw

he demanded, immediatel

she' s being horrible! Accusing me

e to Laura, Sarah. Now. I won

Laura hid behind, impe

and probably egged on by L

fed bear, a worn, one-eyed thin

react, Ethan

and with a vicious tug, he ripp

on the ground a

ng for the bear. It was the l

my arm, his g

s just an old toy! You' r

cking Ethan. He didn'

ther from Ethan' s stomping, a small, folded piece of

den it ther

ally looked down. He saw the pa

UV DA

the first time, a flicker of something un

hose words. Fi