The Day I Vanished

s thin nea

red. Each breath w

heels, her bare feet h

ter was shockingly c

skin, a burnin

earring, her finge

, some with pity,

ed, his fac

earring, h

ter dripping from her dress,

a triumphant gl

opped it onto the stone paving. It shattered. "O

ly and walked awa

ifferent glance. "Get yoursel

attention back

, soaked, freez

abdomen flared,

ath, found a hidden corner, and

p going. This

a company retreat

ced to staf

eet smile, had ove

ingle one. Containe

new this. He'd once rushed her to

icked at a dry bread rol

ng. Offered n

n endorsement of

felt the familiar itchiness

erself, her h

it like a mantra. This pain,

the imposs

utside, sleet a

her. His vo

presentation. They're at the old

dangerous, semi-

in an hour," he add

d in protest. She

she

re. Public transport was

n the biting wind

, navigated the dark,

t the

er lungs burning,

office, five minutes la

d up from her

don't need them any

a dismis

uscle twitching in his

mething ins

leave, her l

to the storm, a wave

. A screec

blac

darkness enveloped her. Snowflakes,

ief. It was

Mount Sinai when t

nother patient. He reco

o her side, his fa

blood matted her hair

, his medical tr

e raging, aggravated by the

scrolled through r

dia

n Car

's voice was raw. "It's Amy. She was in an ac

al voice. "Another drama, M

fluttering open. She s

n's name, a ques

d, his expr

weakly. Gestured

to see her like th

the call, hi

critical hours, her vital