I opened my mouth, only to find my throat locked tight, as if something were choking it shut.
Not a single word would come out.
All that escaped was violent coughing, breaking through in fits and starts.
The line went quiet for a second.
Then his tone suddenly tightened.
“What’s wrong with you? What happened?”
It took a long time before I managed to force out a few broken words.
“I… I was wrong… I really know I was wrong…”
My voice was thick with tears; every word felt as though it were being squeezed out from the depths of a torn soul.
Everett’s tone immediately softened.
“Don’t panic. Take it slow. Where are you right now?”
But it was as if I couldn’t hear a word he was saying.
I just kept talking to myself, as though confessing, or perhaps punishing myself.
“I saw her certi
