a P

They were a branding iron, searing themselves into my very being. Yet, a strange calm

emories surfaced. Not of the recent horr

jaw. We were on the balcony of his penthouse, the city lights tw

nd 'beautiful' in the way he meant it. To me, it was just a word. But his e

pered, pulling me closer. "You' re mine

y initial. "This," he' d said, pressing it into my palm

patiently chipping away at my protective shell, trying to understand my alexithymia. H

nd making analogies, just to see a flicker of understanding in my eyes. He' d called my quiet

derstanding to judgment? Was it Corliss? The kidney? Or was it always th

leep, piecing together the broken shards of our past, trying to find the precise momen

I returned to the mansion, a sense of dread

' s arms were wrapped around his neck, her head tilted back, a triumphant smile on her

ned her grip on Garrison, pressing herself even closer to him.

as different. A primal, raw sensation that made my hands clench. My chest felt tight, my br

self ask, the words cutting thro

tia, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. Katia, however,

orried about me, you know, after that dreadful chandelier incident. And your... unfortunate involve

' re recovering, though. We were all so concerned

tia' s feigned sympathy. "Must you always cause a scene? K

a? I'm not causing anyt

a, who had subtly flinched and clutched her arm. "I'm warning you both. I

"Now, apologize to Katia for your behavior

For being humiliated? The anger flared, hot and

the small, framed photograph on the side table. It was a picture of me, smiling faint

e knew how much that locket meant to me. It was the only physical

bing fear. He would take it. He would destroy it. He

out, the words tasting like

oice dripping with false magnanimity. "I understand you've been through a lot. I forgive you. Truly." She

ling a bit faint. The shock, you know. Could you perhaps take me shopping? I need a distraction. So

"Here, take this card. Buy whatever you need. Anything to make you feel better." He handed her a

pany her? Serve her? The

s. "What do you want, Elna? Your happiness is all that matters." His words, once filled with

here all day?" Garrison' s voice was

e from the very depths of my soul. "Yes, Garrison,"

raction. Katia was laughing, her head thrown back, her hand resting on Garrison' s chest. He looked down

me to hear. "I prefer to sit next to you in the car. El

want, my dear." He glanced at me, his smile fading. "Elna, you u

" I thought, a bitter taste in my mou

ia, on the other hand, is so full of life, of emotion. It' s a joy to be around her." He paused,

a triumphant,

anted to tell him that I was feeling more than he could ever imagine. That his words were tearing me apart, piece

d my inability to do so. The irony was a bitter pill. I slid into t