Shattered Hand, Broken Heart, Burning Soul

, expensive clothes and had managed to make his face look pale a

istening with unshed tears. He looked at me, then at

perfect imitation of heartbreak. "I

terclass in

via rushed to his side, fl

s hair. "It's not your fault. It was a horrib

" Caleb continued, his voice cracking, "Ethan wouldn't h

eyes pleading for my

middle of their flowing river

han, say something. Don't you see how upset y

't asking me to comfort my brother. She was ordering me to

oud enough for me to hear. "I can see it in his eyes. He blames me for everything."

me a look of pure venom. "Ethan is just... not himself right now.

hing a play I had seen a hundred times before. I knew all the lines.

ping they would take

rst thing I c

yes to see Caleb stumbling backward, clutching his arm. A

h fake terror. "I was just trying to get close

a's view, I saw the glint of his own thumbnail,

at. They only saw thei

he and Olivia surged forward, not toward me, but to Caleb,

ale with shock and anger. "He was just tr

, rushed to Caleb's side. "Let me see, C

stabbed. They completely ignored me, the boy with a shatt

d. The jolt sent a bolt of pure agony through my right hand and t

tire universe had contracted to the si

"wound," Eleanor turned back to me. She stood over my bed, her chest hea

ng we've done for you. Taken you in, treated you like a son. And this is how y

er. She just glared at me,

years, I felt the last, withered cord of affection for her snap. It did

e was now a perfect, clean void. It was empty. And i

he door wide open. I could hear their voices in t

g heavily on Sarah, his face a picture of suffering. But just for a se

eyes

he s

A victor's smile. He had won. He had taken everything from me, and now he

ck. I didn't scow

tombstone for my artistic dreams. I felt the deep

pass in a blur. I wanted to sign the discharge papers, walk out of this h

to wait a l