Coma, Cruelty, and Caleb's Betrayal

f antiseptic. Pain, sharp and insistent, radiated f

I heard voices ju

ncussion. She'll be fine," Fitzgerald's voice was tigh

" Caleb's voice was colder. "This is

e room. He was an older man with kind eyes th

said softly.

and Fitzgerald were now standing. "Ca

her family. Whatever you have

juries from the fall are minor. But... my examination

. "Ms. Reid, you have advanced lung ca

in the air, h

min

calm settling over me. It was as i

diculous. She's just trying to get

agreement. "She's a

his undeniable tragedy, would break through their righteous fury. T

searching for any sig

hing. Just co

e answered it, his tone instantl

t's wrong? A

"I'm on my way. Don't wo

o Fitzgerald. "Hailie's

door without a ba

Mr. Skinner, this is serious. We need to di

over his shoulder. "Fitz, you stay here. Ma

n he wa

door, his arms crossed,

less sorrow. "Ms. Reid, we can start chemotherapy to

" I asked, my v

ly. "You need to tell them yo

rstand what? They wouldn't care if I wa

ished by Caleb's hurried departure to

" I said, my voice flat. "

the finality in my eyes. He left me with a prescrip

my bones sharpened, and breathing became a monumental

erald called. He di

out of the hospital and come back to

ance wasn't over. My sufferin

i

ey wanted me back, I would go back. I would l

s. I filled the prescription for a month's worth of the strongest opioids

yal only to Caleb, s

fected before entering. You've been in a h

a large bathroom by the garage. They filled

one of the

The chemicals hit the unhealed cuts on my arms and legs, a fresh wave

rofessional masks crackin

landed on the blood in the water, and for a split seco

erald put a ha

b," he murmured, his voice l

the brief moment of humanity

the maids, his voice devoid of all e

marry leave me bleeding in a tub of

ken laugh es

d about germs