When the Dream Finally Died

ied hand and foot to the bed, under the pr

r teeth. Blood filled her mouth, wit

pulled her into his arms in distress, only fo

el better, then go ah

his shirt, still gently soothi

o rest, Suzanne appeared, her ar

forward and confront them, but the

said hypocritically in front of everyone. "

ze to Suzanne in front of her

e became Colby's p

e dark, so Colby moved into h

damaged, and Colby force

one with eyes could see it-somewhere along the way, Co

nn her proper status. Everyone thought she

ly a body stained with scandal. The fact that Colby was still wi

essure of each passing d

gain and again, attemptin

eady cleared immigration. But Colby reported her

ng her in his arms, ki

rsely. "If you dare try to run again, I c

asement, declaring his ownership

satisfied and often

the ground and slapped her dozens o

why Ryann refused

uth. She was at the

in handfuls, pills became the on

r knew any

s wife was on the

was to escape tha

de the hospital as Colby drove up. Her thin clothes di

n the car. He knew she cared about appearances a

door, he reminded her impatiently, "Sit in the bac

oze mid-

er was now piled with childish pl

d carefully in the center, o

d of pain. After closing the door, sh

ooled. "Why do you n

quietly. "You promised that every y

er a long pause, he fi

nly by a small window near the ceil

ner, barely conscious. He didn't

s around him and br

rried the wrong ma

ling her tears, clarity fli

all the strength he had left, "Mom

everal yellowed pages. The first on

nts for two fake identiti

member

ed Colby to sign the year she got married. The

usted. After carefully reviewing the documents, th

med down Ry

e procedures to cancel both her an

she would take Charlee

e would never se