Husband's Deception, Wife's Awakening

e call when a knock

e, his expression one of weary concern

had his brother' s eyes, his brother' s build. But the way

flection of his brother' s, a painful reminder of my husb

watch in my pocket, my knuckl

pulled the

ice barely a whisper. "

le touched his lips. It was a familiar express

ou," he said smoothly. "His dyin

I' m sorry, Helen. With everythin

in my eyes. I ran my thumb over

ehind this watch, Dustin

f a second before shaking his

gth. "Barefoot, on stone steps. I prayed for three days and three nig

with his. "I did it because I

t for a second, I saw a crack

deliberate. "He held me for a whole night after I got back, te

swallowed. A flicker of

ing so... extreme?" he a

d, my gaze unwavering. "And I wo

nable to meet my eyes. The air in the

en, since it was his, maybe I should hold onto

p, but my mind was clear. He

ed calm

ay," I said, a bitte

fused. "What

d, my voice laced with a chill

morless laugh. My eye

I picked up the disposable li

to life, its light da

ed in shock. "Helen,

e. I held the watch to the flame. The

, like the remnant

id-air, then fell u

he door swun

tin, honey, what' s taking so long?" She wrapped her

ntly, the shock replaced by a soft

r face glowing with joy. Her eyes swept o

preg

ce dripping with sweetness. "It looks like t

in the r

dug into th

it was just over a month

head and looked at t

ure joy, then to a look of overwhelm

r, his every movement filled with

r. "See, Dustin? This is a gift from Evertt. He' s watching

ange, hollow thing. "Congratulation

er I was there. He helped Kylee

ing but a vast, chilling emptiness. My husband, mourning his own death