Ninety-Nine Chances Gone

out self-reliance echoed in my memory. Now, they s

look in his eyes, the same intense, obsessive fire that h

flashe

or five years, high school sweethearts who were plan

at a charity event. H

truction site mishap that left Mark with a shattered leg and a

hospital, offering to cover all of Mark' s medic

to mar

cold calculation in his eyes. My ha

power, took the deal. He left me with a si

wasteland. I agreed to marry James, not ou

. He never forced himself on me. He would sit at the dinner table, eating alone while I stayed i

e the bl

naturally grow in our climate. He spent a fortune creat

," he had said, his voice sof

ring, obsessive focus, had slowly worn me down. I started to talk to him. I started to let him

felt like happiness. Then I go

oken. His conque

ostile whispers and accusatory glares.

suggests it would be

age was clear. My part in the play

though my insides were churning. I was just

from the campus, I watched the students celebrating, th

s. I remembered a day, not long after we were married, when James had brought me back to this same

he got down on one knee. He didn't have a diamond. He had a simple rin

lushed. "But I wanted to do this. I'm willing

, seemingly sincere gestures, tha

ing those same roman

d over me, and I gagge

iately changed course. "To

s strict orders to all his staff: my health w

. The baby was fine, all indicators normal

ls are a bit erratic. And

ce a smile. "I

ns of prenatal depression. It's very important to have your partner

rs, the doctor's words confirming the cold dread in

n. The six remaining blue roses drooped on thei

ears and cut do

e l

eal, but I had no appetite. I simply stared at the

t. He saw the lights on and scowled, as

laced with irritation. "Are you going to give m

y handed him the report from the hospital. "Sir, the

er twisting his lips. "Prenatal de

opening it. "You're getting more and more cre