Three Times I Died, His Calls Unanswered

sunlight streamed

n't s

ened abrupt

s grim. He

hand, his gr

e room, down the stair

ent, his knuckles whit

e Memoria

h the sterile corrid

arm bandaged. She lo

Marcus commanded, his

d. "I didn't do

okay, Marcus. Ellie's just young, proba

only a year younger than you, Chloe.

of my guilt was

d over me. He'd

mbled, the words

l looked di

stroom," I said, need

restroom, I splashe

believe the wo

a bitte

out, Marcus

m that place downtown. The one near the civic c

flat, devoi

ntly. What el

ve, he spoke again, hi

married. Drop whatever

d, my ba

I have. In a m

ut in, his voice sharp. He w

him, the words escaping

much? She can be with

Referencing our non-blood status, the

at the doorway

, Ellie! Don't ever

s were l

owly. "Okay

across town. The line

he container col

ate bite, then pushe

et me that vegan cupcake from the bakery

Then at the barel

nothing

inued all

brand of im

rom a boutiq

peonies, and they had to be from

s Scottsdale for things Chloe barely

as a small

a confirmation of Marcus's

ered," her arm still lightly ba

er with some old friends from high school. At 'The Jade Scor

The ones who made my li

think s

g. "Marcus thinks it's a wonderful idea. He said,

. Of c

ce, to validate Chloe's

trapped

hirped, her smile no