Chapter 1

On the day of the crash, Evan's first instinct was to pull my sister out of the car — my older sister, who had barely a scratch on her.

I was trapped inside the crumpled wreck. It wasn't until men from the family arrived that they lifted me out of a pool of blood.

I miscarried. The doctors said I would never be able to get pregnant again.

I had also suffered irreversible brain damage. I was left with the mind of a three-year-old.

When I woke up, I didn't recognize Evan or the woman he held protectively in his arms.

Everyone in the family said it was just an accident.

Evan stayed by my bed every day, changing my dressings, feeding me, and teaching me who people were as though I were a child.

He cried as he held me, promising over and over that he would never leave me again.

Clutching my stuffed animal, I whispered, "Are you my daddy?"

His eyes were red. "I'm your husband."

But whenever my sister called, he stepped out of the hospital room to answer.

Then I saw the message he'd sent her on his phone:

[As long as she never remembers, we can be together forever.]

Later, my sister had his baby.

She said, "Can the three of us take a family trip to an island for a few days?"

Evan glanced at me as I sat on the rug building with my blocks.

"All right."

He crouched in front of me. "If you're hungry, get something from the fridge. If you're thirsty, drink some water. I'll be back to keep you company soon."

They shut the door and left me there alone.

But after I accidentally struck the rocks, I could think clearly again.

My face set, I called Don Eisen.

"Come get me. Don't let Evan find out."

***

Vivian stood in the doorway with her one-year-old son in her arms and gently urged Evan to hurry.

"Evan, the car's here."

"Coming."

Evan looked back at me.

I was sitting on the rug, trying to fit a yellow block onto the top of my castle.

He came over and crouched in front of me.

"Nora, open the fridge if you're hungry. Drink some water if you're thirsty. Your food's in there, understand?"

I nodded.

"Open the fridge if I'm hungry. Drink water if I'm thirsty."

"Good girl."

He stroked my head.

"We'll be back soon. I'll bring you your favorite strawberry cake."

I caught his sleeve.

"Where's Martha?"

That morning, Vivian had told Martha and the other servants to pack their things and leave.

Martha had kept looking back at me as she went.

"She's busy for the next few days," Evan said.

"Then who'll stay with me?"

Vivian came closer with the baby.

"Nora, Evan can't spend all his time looking after you."

I kept hold of his sleeve.

Evan peeled my fingers away one by one and put my hand back on the blocks.

"There are men on guard outside. You're safe."

The man at the door asked quietly, "Don, should the men staying behind come inside to look after your wife?"

"No. Guard the gate. No one comes in without my permission, and don't let her wander out."

"Understood."

Vivian reached up to straighten Evan's collar.

The baby caught his tie and giggled.

Evan didn't get angry. He bent down and kissed the baby's forehead.

I held my blocks and waited for him to kiss me, too.

But he had already turned away.

Before leaving, he casually pressed the Away button on the panel by the door.

Click.

The living room lights went out. The television went black.

Only the refrigerator in the kitchen was still lit.

I stared at the closed door, then quickly called Evan.

"Evan, the lights won't come on.",I said softly.

On the other end, Vivian said,

"Here she goes again."

"It's true."

The baby suddenly started crying.

Vivian soothed him, sounding exasperated.

"Evan, how much longer are you going to keep looking after her like this? The second we leave, she has a problem."

I tightened my grip on the block.

"I'm not. I…"

"Nora."

Evan's voice hardened.

"We're only going away for a few days. Stop making a fuss."

"How long is a few days?"

"We'll be back soon."

"Today?"

Vivian said nothing else, but I heard a faint laugh over the phone.

Evan didn't answer, either.

I asked again.

"What about tomorrow?"

He sighed.

"Can you stop asking?"

In the background, someone quietly said, "Don, we're ready to leave."

A car door shut.

When Evan spoke again, his tone was harsher.

"Keep this up, and you won't be living here anymore."

The block dropped into my lap.

"Don't you want me anymore?"

Vivian leaned toward the phone.

"Stop explaining yourself. She just doesn't want you to leave."

Evan paused for a few seconds.

"Nora, be good."

"Then I'll wait for you at home," I said.

"Okay."

The call ended.

The house fell completely silent.

I sat on the rug, staring at the door as the sound of the cars faded into the distance.

After a long time, I picked up my phone again.

This time, Evan answered right away.

"What is it now?"

"Evan, there's no power. I'm scared."

"I know. You're going to tell me the lights are broken again."

"They're not broken. The fridge is still lit, but nothing else is."

There was a pause.

"The refrigerator's on a separate circuit," he said. "There's food in it."

"But I want the lights on."

Vivian's voice came through.

"She just wants you to come back. Give in now, and how will we ever go anywhere?"

"Nora."

Evan sounded impatient.

"I just left, and you've already called twice. Can't you spend a little time on your own?"

I picked at the little studs on the block.

"But they really won't turn on."

"Call me about something like this again, and I'll send you back to the care facility."

I sat up straight.

"I don't want to go there."

"I just want the lights on."

"Then leave them off."

"Evan…"

"I said stop making a fuss."

He hung up.

I sat in the dark, holding my phone.

After a while, I told myself,

"Nora won't make a fuss."

Outside, the sun was bright.

Inside, there was only a sliver of faint light from the refrigerator door.