a

tween me and the hostile world. It took the edge off their sharp word

He sighed, a sou

id, his voice coming through faintly

" I replied,

and throug

that," he continued. "You are still my

ed his friends when they humiliated me. He just let it happen. It was another way to assert

es from a difficult background. She's on scholarship, trying to make

st casual. "She needs support, I... well, I enjoy her company. Nothing more. She know

s. But I saw through it all. He wanted me to be a compliant, decorative wife who didn't threaten h

t. He raised his

Ava?" he asked, a hint

my voice betraying no e

a vacant look, then quickly resumed my position, resting my head

d, my eyes still closed. "You said it keeps you sharp, keeps things interesting.

eyes and l

. "It must be hard for her, in her situation. I ho

t shift in his demeanor that would indicate I ha

car shifted. The car, which had been moving, suddenly jerk

opped, low a

" he hissed. "Are you try

earbuds, genui

e a whisper. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just...

te something in him. His eyes flared

, his voice a low

hed against the windows, heavy drops drumming on the roof. The car filled with the oppressive silence,