The Phoenix Wife

and ran, her bare fee

l was a few blocks

the ER, screa

orward. Lily wa

heart a jackhamme

ith lines etched deep around his eye

l bleeding. We're doing everything we can, but... why wasn't she

a cold, crushing wave. "I...

of a nearby examination cubicle. Jake

aying loudly. "A little scare, that's all. Sarah ca

Sarah and

y! What about Lily? She

ospital, callously remarked from a waiting room chair, "Hey,

her, right? What more can I do? Tiff needs to ea

rds the exit. "Let's

y l

em, a burning hatred

, waiting. Hours passed in a blur

ally drained, she

rt, a chilling prem

nurse had briefly placed Lily earlier w

seiz

e station. "My baby! Li

s description and a blonde woman signed her out about an hour ago. Said they were tra

Mike was in

with a sic

ed, alone this time, a

g for s

ah demanded, her voice sha

nstairs. Sign the divorce papers and the quitclaim

," she whispe

ttering with malice. "She's my

ling, Sarah felt trappe

cramped office where a sl

gnature was barely legible. The house, her father's legac

e to Lily,"

dilapidated motel on the outskirts of town,

r to a di

edge of the unmade bed, cryin

ffled. "She just... she was gone

d bedspread lay Lily

as cold to

sed. A silent scream

ut these things happen. We'll have ot

is voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper Sarah could still hear, "she's damaged goods n

llous laughter echo

he bed, her gaze fixed on her da

h the cold body of her child, a vow

pay. Every sing