a's

te. The place I once considered home now felt l

t. On the wall hung our official "family portrait." The

s's study. I knew he wouldn't be there. At this hour, he

of cedarwood, his signature scent, filled the air. It once drove

isp stack of papers. The title on the top page was

rs Mccormick's signature was scrawled there, bold

ghting for her life, he w

r felt like a tombstone in my hands. So,

indow overlooking the g

nd a young boy, Nate. His smile was genuine, care

every bit the lady of the manor. She said someth

g an expensive new robot. The same one Kira had circled in

frozen, dead thing in my chest. There was no

pen. On the line designated for the "Rejected Party," I

Vela

a rejection required acceptance from both par

remation authorization the nurse

of his desk, where he couldn't miss them. One to end our life to

as she'd left it, her teddy bear

ver frame from her nightstand. Inside was

. It was the one I had packed for Kira's hospital stay. N

s, usually so stoic, were filled with pity.

my voice flat and even. I cut h

back. The bright afternoon sun felt like a