THE RETURN OF GENEVIEVE ( When she Rises).

and perfect, ju

s are bright under the soft glow of the candles. The table is set with all m

utting into the chicken. "You

anted to. You dese

late. After all these years,

he asks, pouring mor

y. "We closed that big

lifts his glass. "T

sip of the rich red wine. The t

ries that make me laugh. The sound of our

her sip of wine, a stran

zin

ke the world is til

rying to s

e asks, his brows

had too much wine," I

e teases, but his sm

ad feels heavy, and my vis

words slur. "I d

g against the floor. He moves to

you," he s

g in his voice that

t work. The room spins faster, c

er, my heart racing

t thing I see befor

ce. Cal

utting through the bl

ymore. With you gone, your weal

-

up to

h my body. My eyes flutter open, and

re

ocus. The steering wheel is right in

m not

art p

arms are heavy, my legs useless. Panic gri

ark, empty road. Trees

s hap

d I ge

mind - the dinner, the wine,

end to love

o

an't b

g me down, but it's no use. My body

ng louder. The steering wheel moves on i

laws at

to stop

to ge

can'

swerves sharply. The tires screech,

se s

doesn'

h a patch of grass. The world tilts a

o

act is

hrown forward, my head slamming against the airbag.

embankment. Each roll sends sho

en, si

side, smoke curling f

and useless. Blood trickles do

ne fills the air, s

at the edges

o

no

to ge

can'

to me. Heat sears my skin, and

s i

s how

ice echoes

r wealth and the c

ough me, strong

t let

et this b

r louder, cons

against me,

th

lodes into fi

me, and everyt