My husband drove the car into the river with my brother and me trapped inside, but when the water had already reached my neck, the man who had been “paralyzed” for 15 years stood up from his wheelchair, k:ick:ed the door open, and whispered, “Play d:ea:d. He’s watching.” I didn’t ask any questions… until I saw who was waiting for my husband on the shore.

But she had always been part of the wider family.

Birthdays.

Christmas.

Board meetings after she became an adult.

She and I had never been close.

Still, I had trusted her.

She rested one hand over her stomach.

Pregnant.

Garrett reached the shore.

Penelope threw her arms around him.

He kissed her.

Not like family.

Not like friends.

Like lovers.

Then they both turned toward the river.

Toward us.

Garrett smiled.

I felt something inside me collapse.

Three years of marriage.

Three years of waking beside him.

Three years of hearing him say he loved me.

Three years of him making warm milk for me every night because I worked too hard.

Three years of him kissing my forehead before bed.

All of it suddenly felt poisoned.

The water reached my chest.

I twisted toward Tobias.

He was trapped behind me.

The rear cabin was nearly underwater.

“Tobias.”

He looked at me.