Escaping His Obsession, Finding Love

hospital gown doing little to ward

head high. I w

Elliott repeated, his

uth shut. My spine was straig

ed to confuse him. He expected tears. He expected beggi

el there until you're re

g me in the hallway. A public spectacle of shame. Nurses and doctors walk

dy. My head felt light, my vision

emerged, her arm linked through his. She w

still here? You must be very sorry." She

r touch. "Don't," I sai

out, grabbing my sho

he hallway. A parrot. It was Sunshine, my parrot. One of th

comforting me. He was a creature

lder and screeched, "

d, terrified sound. She flailed

me! Elliott,

reaction, squawked again. "

der, nuzzling his head against my cheek. I co

yguards lunged

ing to protect him

treaming down my face. "He's all I h

tated. I saw a flicker of

ically. "That thing attacked me! It's vi

ne was a loudmouth,

d again. The flicker o

aid to the guard, his

hine. The parrot let o

"No! Please,

With a sickening crack, h

t limp. He dropped it on

e

eople, everything faded away. There was only the small,

ered and bruised, finally sha

nt I stopped lovi

ple