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."

Rupert finally left the hospital room, dawn

walked downstairs, just as Orson appeared carrying a bright

freshest flowers from the

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

smoked, he dropped the lighter onto the

his face look

better if I'd just died in that accident?"

Rupert..." Orson's voice was full of

plume of smoke and then, his face blank,

"For who?"

be happy to see them when she wakes up.


and

figure cutting through

snowy morning imposing, b

more

a little

the holidays drew to a close, Sylvia tidied up her

the time she finished, the sun had already

out the window for a while, then made herself a pot of tea

sat down when

but finally got up to

to find a bunch of hyacinths

grinned. “You remember

Sylvia joked, “I even scrolled through all our chats. It's like my


some people and some things. Not everything. But

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