The heart had been keeping her alive. She knew that for certain when she dropped it, and the world had gone dark. And then she was falling through an endless puddle of stars. The realms were just spokes on a wheel, turning, turning, turning. She was somewhere in between them, drowning, gasping, fading. Mom. Would she finally get to meet her? Dad. And the man who had been worth death, worth bearing a cursed child? Death was not quiet, and it was not quick.
