Leaving Ashes, Finding Her Sky

urn, he married me. I was a girl from an orphanage; he was a New York t

iagnosed with a rare blood disorder, Chandler dragged m

other major surgery would be a death sentence. He cal

s supposed to be dying, sit up in her bed. A w

lass, she mou

a blood disord

life away to appease a liar, all on my husband's orders. I died on t

was in a private medical facility, and my long-lo

s eyes burning with

said, his voice cold with ra

pte

ry. It is also the day Kristyn Palme

ess that cost more than my first car,

our pric

was smooth

disappear from C

felt nothing. The shock and pain had

one week to sign the divorce papers and leave

st n

," she sai

ap wood of my dining table. Why had I ever thought this marriage would b

is story ended. I' d

of Chandler' s recovery party. He had survived, thanks to my kidney. The Rot

he hallway, my body still weak, listening. Listening to my n

you when you were on your deathbed. She ran off to Europe with that polo player.

Chandler' s voice was str

You owe her

ma. Kristyn... when she cries,

l blow. I leaned against the wall, my ha

r voice sharp with disbelief. "

d my breath, praying for an a

said, his voice quiet but clear,

ude. N

ndler rented for me a few blocks from the Roth mansion. It was more convenie

tangled in the sheets of Chandler' s bed, a triumphant smile on

and wet. Then another. I couldn' t sto

. We never should have met. But when I was a scared, lonely kid in an orphanage, a boy with kind eyes ha

was a match. I gave him my kidney, and with it, my health. I developed a severe he

ery. There was no ring, no romance. Just a quiet, "

ude would one day turn into love. I had beli

s a

a familiar agony. I clutched my hear

ang. It wa

va?" his voice was

at?" I

tside you

ove Manhattan, a fleet of drones was spelling

E YOU

and, public spectacle of

t?" he asked,

Chandler," I begged, my voice cr

now, baby. I' m

n the background, a ligh

he said quickly, an

ent dark at the edges. The pain in my c

It was g

for the small bottle of pills. The doctor'

aining kidney is failing. You have maybe six month

fe was nothin

ste a reflection of my life. It was over

d out one last message. N

an ha

ate condition. One last bargain

me die