Chapter 2

My thoughts drifted off, out of my control.

That year I was five.

Walking home in a downpour, I fell into an open sewer drain.

Eleanor happened to be passing by, called for help in time, and saved me.

To repay that debt, I gave her half of everything my parents and my brother felt for me.

And now, in the end, did I have to give her half of my husband too?

I don't know how long I crouched in that corner, wretched and small.

After dark, I climbed out through the second-floor window.

I heard a crack. My leg felt broken.

But I didn't care.

There were things I had to hear the answer to with my own ears.

It wasn't far. Only half an hour by car.

I limped into the hallway and ran straight into Fergus.

His face went white for an instant, and he stepped quickly toward me, his voice worried.

"What happened to you? Where are you hurt? Should I get a doctor?"

I stood where I was, thinking, for a second, that he was concerned about me.

The next second, he said, plainly,

"There's actually something I need to tell you."

"Ellie's pregnant. It's mine. We're deciding whether to keep the baby. Do you have any thoughts?"

He said it the way you'd ask about the weather.

Something in me broke, and I slapped him hard across the face.

"I broke my leg trying to get an answer."

"And you don't explain anything. You just ask me how to deal with this bastard child."

"Fergus, are you even human?"

Fergus froze, looked at my leg soaked with blood, and his tone turned grudging.

"You're clearly fine, though. Still able to yell this loud."

"Besides, I just told you the truth. What more do you want me to say?"

He said it so lightly it made me look like I was blowing everything out of proportion.

Before I could speak, the door to the room beside us opened.

Eleanor came out, an IV drip trailing from her arm.

"Fergus, who are you talking to?"

When she saw it was me, the color drained from her face.

"Anna... you, why are you here?"

Fergus moved fast, putting himself between us, and shot me a cold look.

She glanced at him.

"I'm a little thirsty. Go get me a glass of water, would you?"

Fergus wanted to refuse, but Eleanor kept pleading.

Only then did he head out, glancing back over his shoulder every few steps.

I didn't miss the wariness in his eyes.

As if he were terrified I'd hurt his precious darling.

The sight of it made it hard to breathe.

I shut my eyes and clenched my teeth, and barely managed to steady myself.

Once Fergus was gone, I fixed my eyes on Eleanor and went straight to it.

"You're carrying Fergus's child."

She lowered her head, not daring to look at me.

Then she suddenly ripped the needle out of her hand, dropped to her knees in front of me, and broke into tears.

"I'm sorry, Anna. That night we were both drunk. I took the morning-after pill afterward. I never thought it would turn out like this."

"Anna, I should have told you all of this long ago. I lost my head, and I kept telling myself it was for your own good, so I never dared."

"It's all my fault, Anna. Hit me, curse me, whatever you want. Just say the word and I'll go get rid of this baby right now."

"I'm just begging you... please don't cut me off as a friend. You really are... the only person I have left to talk to..."

I said nothing, but I laughed, bitter and mocking, the tears spinning in my eyes.

The door was pushed open, and Fergus rushed in holding the glass of water.

The moment he saw the scene, he flew into a rage.

"Anna Simmons, what are you doing?"