The Thirty-Eighth Divorce's End

a great depth of water. Then light, a sudden lance of it that sent a spike of pain through my temples.

voice clearer now. "How are you

ut my neck was as stiff and

he added, his tone neutral. "He asked to be notif

ead through me, sh

res

joke. A cruel

my pain, all the years I had endured Ilene'

m

a low, banked fire for

, my voice clear and s

port a crime.

on the bedside table. "

d Ethan rushed in, hi

d, seeing the phone in my hand. He str

ent! She slipped!" he pleaded, his voice desper

behind my eyes,

y voice shaking with fury. "

"There are security cameras in the

care if I l

ng. "But Ilene... you know her condition. A police investigati

I no longer had to give. "Her life is already ruined b

so hard I t

dent, Ethan? Did you ever wonder why she was calling you so frantically on ou

pouring out. "I loved you. That was my only crime. If you were so consumed

ce. "You always have an excuse for her! Always!

from my throat,

He had never seen me like this. T

led. He looked

ftening with a pain that mirrored my

around my shaking body. "I love you," he

m. I almost let myself sink into t

was t

eady and cold. "If you lo

or her to pay fo

tling with himself. He looked at my bandaged wrist,

huddering sigh, he hand

made hi

I th

e. I gave my statement. They pr

ready to be discharg

concluded our investigation. Based on the evidence and Ms. Wolf's documented h

ufficient to prove i

hearing. "But the security foo

orry, Mrs. Bruce. The security system at your residenc

stood on end. A peculiar chill traced its w

mind reeling. I knew. I

ight to the house. I had to see f

I heard voices from inside. Il

r arranging that new doctor's note saying I was having a psychotic episode. Y

ached for the cool stone of the doorframe to steady myself, its

o my face, held me while I cried, and then gone behin

complete, it was no longer an emo