hospital gown doing little to ward
head high. I w
Elliott repeated, his
uth shut. My spine was straig
ed to confuse him. He expected tears. He expected beggi
el there until you're re
g me in the hallway. A public spectacle of shame. Nurses and doctors walk
dy. My head felt light, my vision
emerged, her arm linked through his. She w
still here? You must be very sorry." She
r touch. "Don't," I sai
out, grabbing my sho
he hallway. A parrot. It was Sunshine, my parrot. One of th
comforting me. He was a creature
lder and screeched, "
d, terrified sound. She flailed
me! Elliott,
reaction, squawked again. "
der, nuzzling his head against my cheek. I co
yguards lunged
ing to protect him
treaming down my face. "He's all I h
tated. I saw a flicker of
ically. "That thing attacked me! It's vi
ne was a loudmouth,
d again. The flicker o
aid to the guard, his
hine. The parrot let o
"No! Please,
With a sickening crack, h
t limp. He dropped it on
e
eople, everything faded away. There was only the small,
ered and bruised, finally sha
nt I stopped lovi
ple
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