Forever With My Children

from my first life was the c

before a grave.

family saved mine from ruin, stood over me.

," she had said, her voice devoi

ss the countless "muses" she kept around, the men she claimed were for artistic inspiration but were reall

d her. I

ving twins, I was overjoyed. I thoug

to some insane hope that Liam, her dead childhood sweetheart, would somehow

ds beat me to death. My last sight was her smiling

en, I

he rhythmic beeping of a machine echoed in my ears. I fe

was

unbruised. I was wearing a simple shirt and

ir by the window, her back

she snapped into her phone. "I' m not

s the exact moment. She was on the phone with her assistant, o

dren were supposed to be

leaded with her to think of the babies. I reminded her of h

asn't my f

the bed creakin

still pressed to her ear. Her eyes widened slightl

up the phone. She placed it on the table b

ke," she sta

My voice was ra

ic and the begging. I could see the anticipation in her eyes,

ompletely blank. I felt nothing for her anymore. No love,

r. Her heart was a stone that could not be moved. Th

My silence was not

e asked, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

t me, and in another life,

y were j

I replied, my voice flat. "It' s your b

and turned my head to face

arp, confused, and for the first time, I fel

n' t understan

and I was no longer