Love After the Storm

umor. The doctor' s words were a low hum in the background, a sound that didn't seem to connect to my life.

t. The first thing I saw when I walked in was the television, blaring in the empty

ere sh

on her swollen belly. Standing next to her, with his arm wrapped protectively

spoke to the reporter. "We're just so excited

echoed in the hollo

en crash fro

pieces of my phone. He had thrown it against the wall. He looked up at

to be here," Liam s

o?" I asked, my own v

est, a strange imitation of Mark's arrogant posture. "I mar

g up a history he couldn't possibly understan

of a family, but what mattered was the writing underneath. He had s

declared, his eyes shining with a crue

nosis in my hand suddenly felt insignificant comp

onger carried my name, at the television broadcasting my w

oice cracking. "Then

the door, Mark trailing behind her. She must h

ne. "We were never married, Ethan. I never f

o if you're leaving, just get

rried. My years of sacrifice, of loving her, of rais

a hug. He started pushing me to

hands shoving at my legs. "Get

The lock clicked. I was on the porch of the hous

red at the medical terms again. It felt real now. Stan

cheap burner phone and dialed a numbe

on the second

" I asked, my voice flat. "I'm

er end of the line. A sound heav

led with a weary sadness. "Our f

rom the porch awning above me. It landed squarely o

late. A sharp, burning pain erupted on my c

wn at me from his bedroom window

ce high and clear. "That'll teach you f

y-looking bites were already swelling. My heart pounded in m

get to a

the edges. My breath came in ragged gasps. I fumble

rked across the street suddenly roared to life. Its headlight

o time

ng screech of metal. The world spun violently, flipping over an

Chloe was in the passenger seat, her window rolled down. Her eyes met mine through the s

her voice drifted across the space between our cars, s

e pavement, leaving me hanging in the wreck