His Life Hung By My Hands

t, the faint scent a reminder of the drama I had left behind in OR three.

ng as I shed my surgical scrubs. But tonight, a new kind of te

headlights cutting through the early evening gloom. Cassius leaned against the driver'

up, and pocketed his phone

ow, smooth sound that used to make my heart race. N

od. I didn' t stop walking. I just wanted t

rides easily matching mine. "I wanted to

oice clipped. "You don't ne

his tone. "But I... I thought maybe

My book club had canceled last minute due to a storm rolling in. But I' d

aring the hospital entrance, but the sleek black car was partially blo

er his breath. "Damn it." He looked at me, a flicker of something I couldn't quite d

s a familiar pattern with him. He always found a way to get what he want

d as he quickly moved the car, creating a clear path for the

abit. I slid into the rich leather seat, the familiar scent of new car mixed with hi

ng, one we used to listen to on long drives, back when our future seem

sual, almost too casual. "How

assing city lights. "Work. Life." It was a generic

rself in work." He paused, then added, "You look... good, though. Healthy." There

ning the tables. "Still

uickly returned to me. "I wondered if you'd...

that have to do with anything, Cassius

turning white. The familiar tension in his h

asked, his voice unexpectedly quiet.

heart attack, the stress of their betrayal, Cassius and Kori's, too much for

hroat. He'd almost said too much. The unspoken

and anger started to coil in my chest. "Pull over, C

"It's late. This part of town isn't safe. And you don't live h

remembered my old life, the

d, raw with emotion. The memories w

My heart hammered against my ribs. H

hissed, my hand already on the

click. The doors were locked. My breath caught in my

rned into a familiar, tree-lined street. My old street. My old

are you doing?" I whispere

Next door, the porch light of Kori's childhood home

er face pale but her eyes surprisingly brigh

s soft, laced with feigned concern. "Are you a

seduced my father, who had dri

" I ground out, pushing open the c

king, my feet pounding on the familiar pavement. I needed to escape.

behind me, his hand closing around m

ce laced with exasperation. "You don't have any

e designed to cut, to remind me of the deso

my voice shaking with for

Who? The man you ran away from at our w

ining order. The world had seen me as the villain, the uns

d, but stopped. What was the point? He

htening. "This is your home. It always was. You

sperate plea. Her gaze flickered from Cassius to me, a smug satisfac

father, entangled with Kori's manipulative mother. My grandmother, her heart giving out after witnessing the betrayal of Cassius

ning air. I pulled my thin coat tighter around me, tr

ce stronger this time, firmer. "A rea

re toxic facade. I didn' t look back. I just walked, faster and faster, until their voices, their shadows, their poison