open the heavy oak doors of he

free

kirts are gone. The can

esigner dresses, tailored suits, and silk blouses. Below th

Her chest heaves with

droom. She finds Reginald in the downstair

Chantal demands, her v

nstructions to dispose of your previous wardrobe, ma'a

into her palms. He is treating her like a doll

the stairs, fully intending t

, raises her fist to pou

maintain a public image b

ver her. She turns around, walks back to her room, and pulls

fades into the monotonous, suffoc

complete isolation. They live like ghosts in the same house. They commu

y evening in

mina Jewelry, rubbing her aching templ

rely makes a sound, vibrates

screen. The caller

She picks up the phone a

Wear the red dress. We h

omach twists into a tight knot. A p

clock on the wa

the contracts into her drawer, grabs

er East Side. The tires of her Honda Civ

the closet. She finds it pushed to the back. A dark red vel

work clothes and

lings to every curve of her body like a second s

cover her bare shoulders, but

ing, ma'am," Reg

her hair up, swipes a bold red lipstick across

d gets into the back of

mind races, trying to calculate what kind of crisis re

The brilliant, glowing lights o

eath, her lungs fighting against the tight corset