The Season I Left You Behind

Sheila Mason and I made a bet.

Whoever finished the experiment first would marry Stanley Henson.

To win, I ran data day and night, and the day I was about to succeed, an earthquake hit.

I was buried for six days.

On the seventh day, Stanley carried me out with his eyes rimmed red — and took the leg off at the knee.

After the surgery he stroked my hair like he loved me, and the words that came out were ice.

"It wasn't an earthquake. It was a blast test. I designed it."

"Your experiment was almost done. Sheila's depression flared up and she collapsed at home."