The Altar, The Lies, His Penance

Housto

fficient, gently pulled me from the suffocating grip of memory. My

." I took a deep breath, pushing the pa

changed into my sterile scrubs, pulling on gloves and a mask. The crisp fabric was a f

ier, its fur matted, a small, sad wound on its head. Its owner, a woma

acking, "Can you... can you make him look l

oice soft. "I'

ying to put the pieces back together, to make things beautiful again. But some breaks are too deep. Some

hone. Leo. I glanced at the caller I

he called yet?" Leo's voice, usually a c

d smile. "He's probably busy,

ng again. It was Joel.

el's voice boomed through the small room, accompanied by the distant sound of crashing waves and m

Leo shouted, thrilled to fi

tone shifted, a hint of exasperation creeping in. "Emery, you neve

ut in. "Joel, darling, who are you talking to?

rip tightened on th

aughter. "Just a friend, babe. And my son." H

ur son? Oh, Joel,

s lower lip trembling. He doesn't like them

voice flat, "I'm go

its earlier bravado. He sounded like he' d moved away from the others. "Emery, I' m sorry. I didn't mean for that to

I said, my voice clipped. I di

a raw earnestness in his voice that su

voice devoid of emo

st feel his hesitation through the phone. Final

" I said, my voice barel

Emery, if... if he wants to fix things, and you... if you want to marry him

n't married. My mind reeled

e corner of the small screen, I could see a woman in a tiny bikini sidle up to him, whispering something in his ear. Was

, Joel, we can do it now. I'll sign the pap

voice, forcing it to be calm, but it vibrated with suppressed emotion. "No, I don't need it. I'm a confirmed bachelor, remember? Can't tie a wild thing li

ere the last man on earth," I snapped, my voice lace

ilent. I could hear him br

who discard her," I said, my voice trembling with a fury I r

pologies. My hands were shaking. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe

lares, they had all been a blur. I remember screaming, tearing at my wedding dress, a hysterical mess trapped in a gilded cage. Everyone thought