The Unseen Scars of Love

eam of alcohol. Chloe was always there, managing his life, his home, his emotions. She redecorated the house, erasing every trace of Ava.

ld haunt him. Her calm, broken expression at the pa

company required. He was sitting in the waiting room, nursing a h

" one nurse said, her voice low.

y scientist, she was devastated. Apparently, Dr. Vance had a very specific DNR order in her pri

o echo in the sterile hallway.

t nurse continued. "But the son, he didn't know. Came in at

couldn't be. Chloe was there. She s

unsteady. He walked tow

nt archives?" he ask

tartled. "Sir, those are fo

he hallway, following the signs for Records. He

ty office filled with filing cabinets. He started pulling open

nds were shaking so badly

, signed by his mother and witness

tific explanation of why she wanted no extraordinary measures taken, citing the preservation of

or, the document c

as t

the nurse s

lling her. She had

what had

. The miscarriage. The blood on the floor. Her kneeling, scrubbing the carpet, her hand

a raw, animal sound of pur

n front of everyone they knew. He had tortured her, systematically and with relish, all while she was pro

the m

ity lights blurring through his tears. He had to find her. He had t

a!" he called out, a despera

le

s gone. Her books were gone. Her photos we

had last seen them, were her wedding rings. He picke

er phone. D

iends. They hadn

old lab. She

st, just as Directo

ried for his mother. He cried for the child they had lost. But most of all, he cried for Ava, the

n address, and the postmark was from a town h

rembled as

ha

ne. Don't try to find me. By now, the wom

'm writing to tell you to live. Don't let grief and anger

r work, the secrets she kept, she di

urpose. I will fulfill the pro

ay you find peace. In my heart, I have alr

od

v

m a forgiveness he hadn't earned and a future he didn't want. T

nd worn from his tears. She had forgiven him. It was the crue