choing halls of the Manhattan City Hall. She wore a pri

looking like a dark god i

eading the standard vows. When Elsie took the thin, stamped marriage cert

into Westchester County, pulling up to a sprawling, mod

line of staff, bowing deeply as Elsie stepped out. Elsie forc

retreated to his study to take

ed upstairs to t

But all Elsie could see was the enormous King-size bed i

er and changed into the most conservative, long-sleeved silk pajamas she could find.

k, the bedroo

. He wore a dark grey robe, his hair slightly damp,

oured two glasses of red wine, and walked

e. He sat down on the mattress next to he

shifted his body toward her. A stray lock o

hand out, intending to tu

brushed the skin of her cheek,

if she had been burne

ark red wine splashed violently across the pure white

he. The walls of the

massive, uncontrollable flashback. She saw the dark hotel room. She felt

headboard. She wrapped her arms tightly around

her voice a broken, terrified

and froze

form. A physical pain, sharp and

ecause he was the monster in her nightmares. He

t down his throat. He slowly pulled his hand back,

t you," he said, his

from the bathroom, stepping toward

arder against the wood of the headb

owel onto the nightstand. He realized

distance between them. His face hardened b

lfill your obligations," he said

n her face. "I'm sorry," she choked ou

ew days," Arthur said without looking back, his tone tight with restrained emotion. "

utting the door f

collapsed onto the pillows, gasping

e stood by the window, lit a cigar, and inhaled dee

I need the best psychiatric intervention

e empty. Mrs. Gable informed her that Mr. Michae

e grey sky, a heavy mix of relief