The Twin's Last Martian Wish

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given voice. "Julian," I repeated, my gaze unwavering, meet

with a dawning, terrible understanding. "Julian?" he rasped, the n

r?" He gestured vaguely between us, then at the chaotic market. His mind, so brilliant at decipheri

oftly, the words a balm to my long-suffer

hat this was all about? A space memorial? You marri

oted wife, the lovesick fool, you tolerated Gisele, you picked up

had been two transactional entities, each fulfilling a need for

ice steady. "You got a compliant wife who didn't interf

interjected, her voice shrill. "Clayton? What is she talking about? Who is Julian? Wha

me, a maelstrom of emotions swirling within them: anger, betr

le's hand away. "Get away from me, Gisele," he snarle

k. "What? Clayton! What are you saying? You

on me, still burning. "We're

can't do this! Not after everything! Not after five years of being

old, devoid of any warmth or concern. "Do what you want, Gisele," he sai

t, and extracted a thick wad of cash. He threw i

lief. "You're... you're breaking up with me? For her?" She pointe

his eyes now filled with a desperate plea. "Ada," he whispered, hi

d it. But please, Ada. Don't leave. Don't leave me now. We can fix this. We can start over. A real marriage. I

e insult. To be Julian for me? Julian was gone. He could never b

Clayton. There is nothing to fix. And I do

ease! Don't do this! I love you! I know it now! I love

through the market. My palm burned. His head jerke

ing to touch the red imprint on his face. He looked utterly be

re you hit him!" She launched herself at Clayton, clawing at his chest, her nai

w, urgent plea. "Ada, please! Don't go! I need you! I love you more than anything!" He looked a

Gisele away, not roughly, but with a finality that brooked no argument. "I never loved you, Gise

t card. "Take this, Gisele. Go wherever you want. Buy

ng understanding. She snatched the card, her eyes still narrowed, but her voice was surprisingly calm. "You'll regret this, Cla

esperate. "See, Ada? She's gone. It's just us now. I'll do anything.

mark on his cheek. He was vulnerable, broken. And yet, I felt

, devoid of emotion. "I never did. And I never wil