son

icia' s old social media posts, a pit forming in my stomach. Everyth

en up. There were blurry photos of a younger Axel, his arm around her, a genu

caught my eye. A photo of her on a pla

future. Even if it means sacrificing

What

nto so much trouble for me. His family... they were

ndship. It was something far deeper, far more entangled. She spoke o

red around a messy divorce. "My heart aches, not for what I lost, b

ding to Alicia's lament: "Don' t worry, your Axel is gettin

d. My Axel? Gett

r post from Alicia. "Free. But at what cost? He' s chose

ivorce. It was the exact sa

horror. I wasn't married to Axel because he loved me. I was a pawn. A condition. He married me so Alicia could get he

The convenient solution f

ed, cheap, discarded. Every grand gesture, every see

ys. I just walked. My legs moved on their own, carrying me through the unfamiliar

e out. I had nothing. No car, no wallet, no sens

eir faces illuminated by the streetlamps. Alicia glanced at me, a fleeting, almost impercep

her voice weak. "My

n to alarm. "Alicia? What's wrong? Are you alright

hispered, leaning into him. "All thi

tenderness, met mine for a brief, fleeting

. Don't worry about anything." He looked at me then, his expressio

t me. He just pulled Alicia closer, whispered assuranc

till pressed to her forehead, but her eyes, cold and

was a package, to be delivered. I stood there, the exhaust fumes sti

er. The driver Axel had promised never showed.

house. Laughter. His laughter. It echo

e was nestled against him, a blanket around her shoulders. He wa

said, not even turning his head a

ong here. Not anymore. I climbed the grand staircase

me. I sneezed, a weak, pathetic s

room, the sanctuary that was neve

forced calm of the house. He looked up, his