s Point

oom smells

No polish.

abric, designed so no one ever t

g-sized bed like it belongs to someone else. The suite is large-too larg

e, I knew I w

simply f

licks shut

definitive click-is wh

been se

r my s

r my h

was inco

on autopilot. I sit on the edge of the bed and res

ld be

omething vital has been carved out o

ne vib

n

ic

ai

t look

eady

a long moment

tifications stacked on top o

: #Rejec

The Marsh Fa

s Say Ashley Mar

tab

rawls unde

video witho

analysts, socialites, people who've never met m

n says smoothly. "Ashley Marsh

her demeanor. Timid. Unsuitable for

ankly, Evans Holdin

st tig

ne off and dro

just sit there, s

of my

oes, humming softly. Of how she smelled like sunshine an

u say to me n

lence

y clothed and c

doesn'

he door jolt

lams again

ock. Firme

ale voice calls.

he door cautiously, peer

utside. Dark su

ask throu

hey're downstairs. We recomme

rse th

u," I say

ack, my hands

ms together, g

e them the

pass. Th

nd judgment. Somewhere out there, Mira is being prais

m being

lights

me, it'

a

screen until it

llows almost

e answer. We

a

hteen year

n't

message

e from

it's best if you st

la

es me. It's low a

et," I re

quiet my w

er sav

I dream of

's dif

ne gasps. No one reacts at all. Th

and realize

or is i

sharp inhale

filters throug

I don't rememb

ything ru

umili

e

ex

up s

t it's nothing compared to the

til it's red. I dress simply-black pants, a swea

reflection, I bare

s look

ld

o

ther knock

rvice t

close the door, pushing

ot hu

nk I ever w

one b

iew flashes ac

e. Just let

inside m

the m

ano

ed it to hap

orced

e to be

hover over

ust one-I cons

ce at the altar. Calm

e the m

ck his

afterward

, the hotel

is polite,

ntion," he says delicately. "We beli

oca

ai

e?" I

property uptown

ost s

hing insid

"I'll leave

se. "Very wel

y suitca

outside, the

lash. Voi

rue you threaten

ly unstable befo

yourself for b

but the words hit anywa

my he

doors feel lik

ty air is cold

its at t

fami

iver I r

hired v

et

y, I glance ba

e, I realize some

where left

through the

the driver

say,

d

Streets I used to k

y childhood room. Of the way m

f Mira's

e

er and over

se my

do that,"

e ans

lows at a

s and see a f

st tig

e," I say

r hesitat

eas

ulls

t onto th

closes

r driv

staring at the build

. Brick.

on the corner. She'd hold my hand and

gon

hing i

wa

now where

rent and cold. My phone is dead. My s

t, tears blu

wipe t

nk bitterly. It's alread

blares

lights floo

e s

ne step

explodes into