Ashes of a Golden Anniversary

ing memories filled my lung

was love, a shared history, wa

amed not for me, but for David, my

anger, but directly into a wall o

scramble past where I' d just stood

t my agonized screams, ignoring their burning f

the fire' s fury: a landsca

nally came, with a chilling resolve

voice flat. "I want to spend whatever time I

ood at the foot of my bed, faces twist

, "Mom and David... they deserve to b

utting dreams aside, of loving

shed across media headlines mocking me, the burned, p

they didn' t: if I had the chance,

closed

t of lilies, standing in

nolds, eyes shining with excit

e, clear and brave: "I' m sorry, everyone. I can'

s spread, expecti

ng weight of fifty miserable

n break, an u

st Sarah' s bewildered parent

who barely knew us: Dr. Olivia Hayes,

eady, cutting through the noise. "I only