when I heard

wed by the beep of the keypad.

time. Then, the frustration took over

Open t

the living room, sipping a glass of

en light up on the coffee table, vibra

ce reclaimed the hallway. He must have

e couch, keep

e stormed in, looking disheveled, hi

manded, tossing his keys onto the co

offee, my expression

the ring sitting on the c

Last night... I was drunk. I didn't mean to leave you. I just... I

ated flatly, testing the

y." He tried to hug me, reach

y, putting the sofa betw

lips. "Come on, Elena. Don't be like this. The w

y the door. "Your dress came back fro

own. It cost more than most

ening into a wheedle. "Let me see you

g. It didn't look like a wedding

," I

s into the bedr

st and flared out in layers of silk

ed like a

t into the

d. "Wow. Elena. You

ready reaching for his

snap the photo

changed instantly. The smile vanis

take this

glass door shut but failing to latch i

s a ghost. I stayed in t

trying on the dress... Yes, I know I promised... No, I don't love her. You know tha

sed m

a st

e. "I'm coming. I'll tell her it's a shipme

hun

composing his feature

blem at the docks. A shipment of... goods... g

le of the da

, his lips feeling like a brand. "You look beaut

out t

ched

one b

age from an u

s a p

a car. He was driving. His hand was

read: He c

snap. It was the quiet sound of a tether break

chen. I opened th

the heavy-d

the mirror. I loo

and drove them i

I cut. I

bodice. I hacke

ll to the floor

ss. I stood there in my underwear, su

lt l