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I shrugged, "It felt wrong So I just don’t knohat It’s possible that it’s me, that I’n that"

Kate slad you didn’t"

I nodded Kate turned back to the pot "Did he say anything else, before he left?"

She dipped a spoon into the boiling broth, raising it to her lips She blew on it gently before sipping it Nodding, she banged a spoon on the side of the pot and said, "As a ns this" Not the kind of thing a jackass would say If you sign that paper, his case is screwed Did you read it?" I shook es "The other evidence is only testiible proof to the accusations If you sign that, Jack loses everything and goes to jail for a very long ti at them I wouldn’t survive in jail I knew that without a doubt I was too soft, too sensitive It s others --it just wasn’t the lie I thought

__________

I parked Kate’s car at the Econolodge Rain was pouring from the sky like someone left a hose on I stepped fro lot olden nued on it twice Loudly

Jack pulled the door open, his jaw dropping to his chest, surprised to see ive him a chance to answer, "How could you lookwet hands, I shoved his chest "Answerh Water dripped down my face, but Jack didn’t touch me

"You deserve n the paper," his voice was cold Moving back, Jack started to close the door Kicking my foot out, I stuck it in the jam before the door shut

"I’m already a martyr, Jack Your compassion is wasted on me I’ve been fired fro left for o rot in jail It makes no difference at this point What I want to know is how you can stand there and lie to me? Answer me Jack, or so helpthe air, "Or you’ll what, Abby? I tried to save you I can’t do a da to help me, but I can clear your naive you another chance" He stepped closer to n the fucking papers"

As he was yelling atsnapped I couldn’t stand it anymore, "You can’t save me, Jack! You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved! And I don’t want it I’ll do what I have to, even if it killsyou of so you didn’t do, but for the life of me, I can’t understand why you won’t admit it!" I pulled the papers out ofit Every ounce of anger that flowed through me was put into that action The silent volcano withinat Jack, and when he reached for the paper, trying to stopto the parking lot like wet confetti

Jack was shocked, watchingit in the air like it didn’t matter "Words won’t save me What I say oing back Even if Phil clearswet hair out of his eyes "There’s nothing left here for you, Abby I’m screwed no s better for you"

My chest was heaving, huge tears of rage dripping downa hot trail "What’s ly All of it I said yes when you asked me to marry you I knehat that meant I’m not here for your money I don’t care about your studio I’ood, and I’lassy, but he didn’t step out closer A sad smile snaked across his lips, "This is one time that I wish to God you’d listen to me Go home, Abby Wash your hands of me"

The door closed inalone in the rain It felt like my heart died in my chest I couldn’t breathe I didn’t knohat to do, so I stood there, rain peltingme to the bone Minutes passed Dread pooled in ht would shole and I wished it would It would be easier than this--easier than leaving him behind That’s when I realized that I couldn’t do it Jack was trying to saveup et out of the rain, and sat down About an hour passed The eaves weren’t wide enough to keepfrohts drifted into my mind, and I wondered what I’d do if Jack opened the door and turned n those papers was suicide, but it felt like I was already dead The wind blew, pelting the cold water into ainst the ja my face away from the wind, toward the door when the knob turned Jack pulled the door open and I fell backward into the roo wet