His Regret, Her Freedom

rance of the gallery, a tig

e y

Ethan Hayes, tech mo

, the latest being Chloe Vance, whose laug

between David' s sterile hospital room and this glittering, hollow world. David needed the experim

curated show, "E

s of

near the main installation, a de

a champagne

cl

ure, a jagged piece by a pr

ective

screech as it crashed to

ore through Ava' s side as

the curated sounds of the evening

shouted

herself

of an emergency room, a do

ry, Mrs. Hayes. You were

e mo

er of warmth she hadn't dar

hone, fingers trembli

, once,

" His voice was c

istinct laugh babble

accident at the galle

I'm busy. Send

.. I lost

shock, or sympat

ou're always seeking atten

ne wen

e phone, the wor

David' s hospit

rare genetic disorder stealin

r relayed by a well-meaning

, already worn th

ietly, while Ava held his hand, h

was signing David'

n't to

re, impeccable in

funeral expenses, of course. A decent sum. Consider it... genero

ry now, her grief a cold,

even,

smiled.

Ethan' s assi

available in a prestig

from Mr

gize to Ethan for her "accu

, her voice fl

le plot she could afford,