ER. The emergency room.

When Reese was finally brought back, the darkest part of the night had already faded.

Rupert stood by the window, rolling a limp cigarette between his fingers, lost in thought.

Chris watched him, worry etched across his face. "He's stable now. But you need to be more careful." “Yeah,” Rupert replied, his voice flat. He kept his gaze low, thick lashes casting a shadow over his eyes.

A few moments later, Lester pushed open the door.

He checked on Reese first, then walked over to Rupert.

"Thanks," Lester said quietly.

Rupert didn't answer. He just stared at the floor.

Lester drew the curtains around Reese's bed, then cracked open the window to let in some chilly fresh air. He offered cigarettes to Rupert and Chris.

Rupert shook his head.

Chris picked up on the tension and excused himself. “I've got to get back to work. You guys talk."

Once Chris left, Lester stood by the window, lighting up. The cold air mixed with the smoke curling around him.

He looked at Rupert, voice icy. “Mr. Rupert, for Reese's sake, I hope you won't see Sylvia again."

Rupert's cigarette snapped in his hand, tobacco scattering onto the floor.


For a while, the only sound was the soft beeping of the monitors. Then Rupert spoke, his voice low and controlled.

"Okay."

left the hospital room, dawn

just as Orson appeared carrying

Rupert, freshest flowers

bouquet, glanced at it, and then tossed it beside a trash can. He flicked

the lighter onto the bouquet. The pretty wrapping

flickered, making his face

been better if I'd just died in

Orson's voice was

of smoke and then, his face blank, said, “Go get

"For who?"

to see them when


and

cutting

snowy morning imposing, b

more

a little fonely

holidays drew to a close, Sylvia tidied up

time she finished, the sun had already

stared out the window for a while, then made

down when the doorbell

her fingers, but

to find a bunch of hyacinths

grinned. “You remember

through all our chats. It's like my


she'd only forgotten some people and some things. Not everything. But she

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