All Chapters of I Had Forgotten Her: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Marina and I grew up together.Before I was old enough to remember any of it, traffickers took me, and Grandma Ruth, who survived by picking through recycling, was the one who found me.After that she kept me with her.Raising two children was twice as hard for an old woman with almost nothing.She never once made me the lesser one. Whatever Marina got, I got.Marina's grades were better, so Grandma had her tutor me.When Marina went out to play, Grandma told her to take me along and hold on tight to my hand.When Marina got new clothes, Grandma found a matching set for me.There were years of moments like that.Marina and I were never apart.The neighbors used to tease that Marina was going to marry me someday.Marina never denied it. She'd rumple my hair and say softly, "Then marry me when you grow up."That was when I started noticing how she felt.I saw the love she kept tucked inside the things she did.Only I was allowed to touch her things.The second I needed her

Marina meant it. The next day she took me down to the Avenridge County clerk's office.We signed what I believed were marriage papers, and then we moved into my little townhouse.It was a gift from the Hollowells.My biological parents felt nothing much for me and hadn't wanted me back.They put the townhouse in my name so nobody could say they hadn't.I brought up moving Grandma Ruth in with us once. Marina said no.She didn't give a reason, and I let it go.I trusted her, and I went back to see Grandma when I could find the time.I thought that certificate was the last guarantee I'd ever need, that Marina would finally draw a line with Derek.Instead they started seeing each other more than ever.Often enough that I began questioning every sentence out of her mouth.Before I could work out how badly I was coming apart, all of it went off at once.Marina had promised she'd spend every birthday with me. That year she left me at home and went to a corporate gala with Derek.

For the next several days Marina didn't leave the house or contact Derek once.She stayed with me every hour of it.When the fever wouldn't break, she changed the cloth on my forehead more times than I could count.When I came out of a nightmare, she talked me back down and back to sleep.When I couldn't stand the idea of seeing anybody, she cut off every meeting and every business call she had.I let myself believe, pathetically, that it was because she cared.Then Derek showed up with a stack of contracts, and started laying out photographs of women I didn't know."You might not know these faces, but your body does."Thanks to you, every one of them signed off on a project for Marina."He matched each photograph to an agreement, one after another, until there was a roaring in my head."What... what are you saying?"Derek laughed under his breath, enjoying every second of it."Still not getting it, brother?"Marina's been climbing over you this whole time. That marriage c

After that visit, Grandma Ruth came every two weeks.Rain or snow, nothing stopped her, and she kept it up for two years.With her and the psychologist the prison brought in, I slowly climbed back out of it.But I still hated Marina.I still couldn't make my peace with it.The thing that finally wore it down was Grandma.In my third year inside, her visits got further and further apart.The last time I saw her, she talked almost the whole hour.About finding me when I was small. About putting Marina and me through school.The woman who had never cried in front of me suddenly couldn't stop."I didn't raise Marina right, and that's why she did things no decent person would do. But Adrian, you two are the only children I've got. I don't want to watch you turn on each other."Call it selfish if you want. When you get out, don't go after her. Please."She looked at me through the tears.It was the first time I could remember Grandma taking Marina's side, and the first time I ev

It looked like it had taken everything she had, and she added it quickly, like she was afraid of putting weight on me."I just want the chance to make it right."There was something Marina never seemed to understand.Nobody could see what she buried. Everything she let show was written all over her face.I hadn't called her on it before, and I didn't now.I smiled, told her no, and went back to the rental.The door had been clean that morning. Now it was covered in spray paint.Home-wrecker. Murderer. Nobody's bastard.The words meant nothing. I'd heard every one of them more than once back when Marina and I were falling apart.What I hadn't counted on was Marina following me up and seeing them too.Her first reaction was, "Who did this?"Then she worked out the answer, and her voice got smaller and smaller until it turned into an apology."I'm sorry. I didn't think he'd go this far."For once I didn't let it pass. "You didn't?"You know him better than anybody. That's wh