pared to the chaos outside. It was lined with b

til my knuckles turned white. I stared at my reflect

as vibrating with a

oor o

walk

a switch had been flipped. She looked smug. She sauntere

h false sweetness. "Sorry about that bac

face her. "Do you t

have the name, Elena. But I have him. I have his heart. I have his nights. And," she

She was pathetic. She was fighting for

"I am the institution. When he gets bored of you-and he will-you

ed. The mask sli

ness. "He tells me you're like a fish in bed. Cold. B

you because you're

high-pitched shriek that gr

r, deliberately knocking over

ed. "Stop! Pleas

st open almo

must have followed

oor, sobbing. He saw

happened. He didn

shed

her, panic in his mov

s chest, clinging to his lapels. "S

. A clumsy,

e then. His eyes wer

ng with you?

ept my face impassive. He had nev

g, Dante," I

ng on a performance in his arms. "She's terrified! You th

't touc

up into his arms, holding her like she

e said, his voice ice co

alke

club bathroom to carry hi

me, listening to the silenc

lub alone. The bouncers looked at

ll a driver

It was raining lightly. The water mixed with the h

blocks. The red shoes were pinchi

sharp. It was real. It remin

he way back to

packed a bag. Not a big one. Just the essentials. My

the diamond earrings he gave me this morning. I f

gagement ring. Th

chen counter. Next t

s one

jo

deadbolt. I changed the digital code s

he couch i

sun to rise. I