Each stride hurts my calves, then my knees. My sole motivation is a nice bath with bubbles and candles. As I reach the top step, David sighs and swoops down, bridle-style. I fight him. "Let me go, David!" I resist, but even to me, I sound weak.

"I'll fetch you the book we were talking about," Jessica says as she moves out of David's path.

My hands tremble on David's chest. "Thanks." I immediately respond before David walks away from his mother and into our room.

"Our connection can only take so many of your objections." David stomps up the stairs.

"My legs," I merely say. I'm too tired to...