His Blame, Her Liberation

was over. Music throbbed through the floorboards of the packed house, vibrating in my bones. I

next to him, my hand in his,

in a corner, wa

the crowd, his face pale and slick with pani

ve to help. T

ad, a perfect, terrible memory. The black van. The local thugs Je

him in a van. You' re the only one who can do

e sound that led to a loveless marriage, to an emotionally abusive husband who resented me for saving him, to a

r the first time, I felt nothing. No duty.

y arm from

No

outh hanging open. "What

my voice flat. "They j

screen glowed, a beacon

em what you saw. That' s w

ke I was a strange

ere faster! You know how

ou' re so strong. Ava, I need you. I ha

bility," I said, turning my

noise and the panic behind. I didn' t l