Brand

nd re-echoing the bitter truths. When Austin finally opened the door, his eyes, for a fleeting m

ngs up. You always do." He paused, avoiding my gaze. "Once the baby is born, we'll have a proper wedding. Gr

meaningless drone. I recoiled when he tried to touc

ked, a hint of desperation in his

risingly steady. "And I want a welcome-ba

en, he saw it. The faint spark in my eyes. The ghost

e he' d proposed, the bookstore where we' d spent hours lost in words. But each place felt hollow, a stage set for a play t

ointed. "Let's have dinner there," I sa

strange expression on h

, glancing at me. "I need to take this," he s

ietly, already

ed, spilling its contents. Photos. Our photos. Austin and me, laughing, holding hands, our faces young and full

ars left. Then, slowly, painfully, I got up. I found a metal bucket, a lighter. One by one, I fed the photos to the flames, watching t