s Point

owing someth

es-but because of the emptiness. A hollow so vast it feels like my so

e is unfamiliar. To

pit

sluggishly, like my bra

protests violently. I gasp, f

hle

her's

s beside the bed, his shoulders hunched, his expensive suit wri

one-I feel something dan

o

I rem

al

icrop

e, calm and

N

ath st

t soften the words. "You hit your head. The doctors said

co

were a spra

aw, scraped bloody from scre

ong?"

o d

he world tore me

twitch. "

esit

esitation my entire life-the pause before disappointmen

ay. My voice

ds it

lights up l

ons explod

face. My h

st article wit

ESS FAINTS AFTER EV

zen at the altar, eyes wide, bouquet tremb

er he

MARSH: THE SMARTE

cro

pour in e

looked li

d clearly

ing like that

fair an

sion

crolling

if I read enough, I'll find something-

do

phone slips from my ha

clears h

read those th

way out of me, s

say. "What did you think

ley, everyone is under a

ryo

t

er

u know?

up. "Kn

to humiliate me in

ediately. Too fas

Sop

le

hes until

ightens. "

hle

wer

"There were... conv

cer

mall it fee

my fa

r opens

sweet

in like silk over a

't re

ntly, deliberately. I can almost feel he

f the bed and takes my

ress can be so dangerous for s

sit

e it

ed. She's dressed impeccably, as always. No sign that sh

miles

e. Not

tor

rest," Mira says lightly.

g inside

d away from S

to be

s, just once

er skirt. "Come, Mira.

n't move

dying me like I'm a puz

tter," she says. "The pre

y no

've been handling things. Making su

ecta

y ex

y l

els colder

harged t

ck with everything unsaid. New York's lights f

a distance, cameras hungry. Security

e doors clos

like she's reli

ost immediately. She gl

ly. "He wants to make s

ab

curl in

t them tow

hall, I hear Mi

d?" sh

st

mething you

rn s

ng up her phone. Sophia is beside her

s it?"

creen and turns

she says. "Someone leaked secu

omach

ot

darkens as

e screen, but

say automatically. "I

that," Mira in

h something dangero

hat you

ftly. "Ashley,

art p

I say?"

d turns the p

ideo

hospital bed. Pa

ce is faint in

hen m

e all of them. I w

oom t

harp bursts. "That's cut. I was ta

Mira says softly. "They're

eat

"This is serious, Liam. If this gets

t," I whisper. "

s torn. E

steps clos

ays quietly,

ures to

ark there. Fain

st

say. My voice shakes.

ays, eyes glossy. "When

ands like

ens. "Ashley, this

r closes

em, something in

owly, "you need to l

on't regist

e?" I

things calm down. This environ

" Mira w

la

t of me, wil

e away," I say. "

snaps. "Lower

when it

he be

fina

choosin

hoosin

supposed t

y. "We've arranged a h

ho

arble floors, the portraits of a

tand," I

all b

"I'll

cry whil

ly what fits into one suitcase. My wedding dress

t look

il in the drawer and

" I whisper

omes to

into the living room,

ake this time to

sn't loo

nds stiffly n

" he says. "Whe

no

or doors s

ears from view, somethi

the cit

one b

ess

o

e at h

urn off

homeless, nameless, and