Mortification

Anne

A chilling breeze of mortification washed down from my head to the tip of my toes. I could recognize that deep icy voice from anywhere.

‘God! Why him of all people?’

I slowly turned and locked eyes with Dr. Sawyer who was leaning with his back on the rails of the balcony. As if the devil had not done enough, next to him stood Vincent whose jaws were still wide open from what I guessed to be shock. Another wave of shame washed over me, rooting me to the spot.

I should’ve opened my mouth and tended an apology, but my lips were frozen shut. My throat suddenly felt patched. I didn’t know if I could survive the huge embarrassment. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to survive. All I wanted to do was disappear from the face of the earth or crawl into a dark hollow pit, never to be seen or heard from again.

They were probably having a quality father-son time with the bottle of champagne and two glasses before my unpleasant interruption.

Dr. Sawyer downed his glass in one swift move, then