The Hummingbird's Broken Song

ed thousa

e air, as obscene as

mind flas

years of drudg

struggling artist, had "accidentally" spilled turpentine all over her nearly comp

r chance at ea

ologetic, so "de

he background, a smug little smile on her f

days and nights to salvage what she could, but

aybe fine arts isn't your path, Elara. It' s

ay from her passion,

ory took on a sickening clarity. It

nfluence,

nd?" Elara repeat

es. "I know it' s a lot, baby. But we' ll f

Elara

h, please. Don' t tell me you actu

n turned back to Elara, his expressio

ive me the money you have, and we c

o

nt, the constantly dripping faucet he never fixed, the t

lived t

t was a phy

tire world, his entire self. He' d watched her suffe

ainst her skin. A gift f

Elar

ebrows sho

. "I' m not giving you this money. A

rds the exit, the envelope

ootsteps, but she could feel t

ounge, into the indifferent city night, breathing ai

llars was hers. Earne

o Liam. It was going