Marriage Contract: A Deceptive Relationship

e. Anyone who knows Cara would know that stillness is not

ra's got her limbs sprawled out, back firmly pressed into the seat, and her left hand resting lazily on the armrest. Her right hand is propping up her chin,

ts you egg his car. Her mom, Brianna Green, is a force to be reckoned with – a superhero in her own right. At 53, she's what the cool kids these days would call lit – she's got a wild, unconventi

exactly like her mum in terms of character. He would

st heartbreak. Her father's passing had left a hole in her chest, one that was never quite filled. But in thi

beep, each flicker of the screen reminds her of just how much she has left to lose. Her thoughts spiral-if it weren't for this machine, her mom wouldn't be here. If only they could go back to those c

he door creaking open sn

results

in. This is the last place he wants to be

h

ase him. It helped her pass the time. Plus, the poor guy is always mortified. His facial expressions are everything. It

he sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. His feet are planted firmly in one spot, as if he's afraid to mo

poken words. The kind of silence that

. She's trying to hold herself together, but

an barely meet her eyes, as though he's afraid of what her reaction might be. The words

like a death sentence. Her mind races with images of her mom in a hospital bed, hooked up to machine

t. Two weeks ago, they didn't even know there was a problem. Now, her mother is facing a surgery that might not

to a time when she didn't feel like her whole life was unraveling. But she can't. All she can do is si

e is no

threatening to prank him again. She's just... quiet. He doesn't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe, he thinks, she's still in shock. He doesn't want t

fe to the fullest than being trapped with heart monitors, tubes, and an oxygen mask. If she could see herself right now, she would probably throw up. She always said

. The doctors had found something in her scans, something that shouldn't be there, and now the waiting had begun. The waiting to see how long it would take bef

er, who taught her to fight for what she believes in, to stan

realizes she's speaking them. It's the first time she's said it aloud, and it feels

omething, anything, will change. But deep down, she knows she can't control what happens next. Li

s steady heart monitor beeping in the background,