sie

from my life long bef

ming like tombstones in a graveyard of my own making. I was

honeymoon. I remembered the sunlight on the cobblesto

ound of shattering glass was satisfy

angers. The smell of his cologne lingered on the fabric.

med photos from the nightstand. I didn't bother to look

r code

e stopped dead whe

sounded annoyed, like I was a maid

idn't look at him. I k

he said. He walked over and

y brain could catch up. I stepped ba

ouch me,

reasonable face. It was a mask I had seen him wear with difficult clie

it," I said.

t even blink. "I'm fixing it. But you moving out?

about the bo

rated patience. He reached into his ja

d. "Consider it a bonus.

check. The amount was significant.

hush

asked. "Five years. My caree

said. His voice dropped the reasonable tone

t," I w

he said. "According to t

said. "Just let m

el is coming over later to

back. He checked his watch as he left, li

edge of the be

ed in my gut and clawed its way u

there was nothing left. My hands sh

ust stress. I

luorescent lights buzzed overhead, harsh and un

the bathroom floor. I waited for thr

d at th

red

gna

was a dry, h

just bought me off with a check and invi

he counter. I had fo

ig. Left my phone on t

other phone was wedged between

message f

by. Finally getting rid of

e bile ri

t. That's

e was forming. A life th

d. The two lines stared back at me. They

nto a war zone. I couldn't let Craig use a bab

e trash can. I covered it

check on the counter. I tore it in

he key under the mat. The hallwa

round floor. I was going down, but for the first