I stared at him.
"You never told me that."
"I changed my first name when I was eighteen. I always used my middle name afterward."
I could barely breathe.
"Nicholas Rowan."
He nodded.
"The boy who pushed me. The son of the hospital director. And now my husband."
Nigel looked down.
"I'm sorry."
I turned toward the window.
For twenty years, darkness had kept me from seeing the world.
Now I was beginning to understand that the people closest to me had built another kind of darkness around my life.
"Leave," I whispered.
He stood slowly.
"Sarah, please."
"Not now."
He remained there for another moment.
Then he walked away.
***
That evening, I asked Dr. Harris whether the original hospital staff could still be contacted.
He nodded.
"One nurse is still alive. Her name is Evelyn Ward."
"Can I speak to her?"
"I've already reached out."
I looked at him.
