ma

ing mechanically as I numbly signed

against the cold

from Enzo: "

wall. It had been exactly ninety-one minu

ords in respons

heavy double doors of the

fect hair disheveled, his chest

pped dead in the doorway when

g in his dark eyes. "Gemma. Why di

from the confines

completely flat. "You said I was bei

ep toward me, reachin

ded, his voice cracking. "I had

s stomachache over my

e air, my voice completely f

, carrying the plastic hospital bag

ly bumped the back of my wheel

fluttered down, landing on the linoleum fl

ending down t

rs unfolded th

moment his entire wo

ace in a single heartbeat, leavi

r at the words "complete mi

ke violently, the pape

nothing more than a broken whi

I called you seven tim

into his terrifi

You told me to stop

knees b

e in the middle of the harsh, f

he city, kneeling in the

Gemma,

e armrests of my wheelchair, hot

l abolish the fines." He was begging, his voice cracking wi

ugh him, as if he w

draft the Severance of the

, trembling smile, shak

ing." He choked on a sob. "We will

ay another

ing of the funeral, the rain poured

a single event in our four years of m

aking wet black suit, his knuckles white as

eyes, he looked more like a ghos

rites of the service, my lawyer stepped f

rity guards and handed a thick ma

fficially drafted

et envelope in his hands

father's framed portrait, shivering viol

e dirt over the freshly dug grave,

, my voice cutting through the