His Terminal Illness, Her Eternal Penance.

's study a few days l

Liam? Are we getti

pers on his desk. He looke

aid. "But I ha

rsh, disbelieving sound. "You're

s. One for each of the next five months. After that, I'll sign the final

Five outings? What a

ore we part ways," he said, the lie smooth on his to

he said. "Why woul

ing her gaze, "I'll contest the divorce

e could. His family, though dim

ated, testing the words.

d," Lia

room. "What ki

them p

"Five. But if you try

ricks

was a charity gala for

ng his "Cipher" art sales. He wan

nly after he reminded her i

in a red gown that was mor

ng near a display of student a

The skin around his

by way of greeting, not even

red her his ar

ok it. Her fingers felt

d as they walked into the main hal

moment when he stumbled slightly. A smal

if burned. "Clumsy," she said, bu

m. Whispers follow

her? I thought they

. striking.

Ava towards a particular p

ftly. "It's by a new a

was particularly proud of. He wanted to s

ike a child's finger painti

nce was across the room, schmo

ady moving, "I see someone

for Noah's dubious tech startup, her laughter

a dull ache starti

ificant anonymous donation

made, he felt a small, hol

ce. She was too busy

ng, Liam tried to point o

hat pai

being so sentimental about art,

se now, a throbbing

adied himself again

ow?" she asked, her voice sharp w

yes for a momen

ne, Ava having alrea

l night air, the city ligh

n. Four

, Ava called

et's get this over with." Her

sky park in Maine. I've always wa

sighed. "Fine. I'll dr

morning, engine rumbl

g in his hand. He noticed the pa

ce, look

va said, not meeting Liam's

idn't know Orion

f inside jokes and plans for a European trip they we

silent, the headache

y pass, trees blurrin

ir was crisp and cold. The

mall telescope he'd brought

ngrossed in taking selfies, their fa

tle breathless from the altitude and ex

t her phone. "Yeah, cool. N

ness, stronger this time.

hing himself on

Ava asked, a hint of i

bit dizzy,"

lready turning back to Noah. "Or may

ust looked up at the s