ia's

s bedroom now - staring at

nd everything I owned fit

. Neutral tones, modest cuts, nothing that would draw attention or di

e light beneath it, could imagine him at his desk, already buried

stant through the door. "I'll be traveling for the next few days.

dded in the fabric. My chest constricted painfully. I almost put it back, th

d it up with trembling hands, studying the woman in white who smiled lik

rashed over

me in a hotel room, his fingers tracing patterns on my palm. "Marrying me means board

sure about you. The r

ough with something that sounded

earning me," I'd whi

trying somewher

aniel called it "frivolous." The earrings my mother gave me-too sentimental for Sterling charity galas. A sk

d to be, buried under the w

lk, with a low back. I'd worn it once, two years ago, to surprise Daniel at dinner. He'd looked up fr

left. The dress had st

Nothing like the woman I'd become. I folded it carefully and placed it in my su

never touched pavement. A guitar case gathering dust in the corner. I'd told Daniel I used to

nd. They belonged to

ted a stranger-pale skin, hollow eyes, hair pulled back in a

, Amelia. Daniel Sterling-he'll take care of everything. Take care

was enough. Meant putting him first. Meant

en so

ted. My phone lay silent beside me. Part of me-the pathetic, desperate part-

didn't make mistakes

his bigg

um of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Could hear my own breathing, shallow and uneven. Bu

d said earlier. The complete absence o

marble and glass and expensive emptiness. I'd tried so hard to make it a home-fr

it had m

ast the kitchen where we'd shared exactly three breakfasts together in three ye

ago. The pen was still there. The papers were gone. Already filed away

arly to make him breakfast before a big presentation. Pancakes, bacon, fresh coffee. He'd

self he was just busy. That it would ge

s I'd to

ined closed. No sou

r the wood. I could knock. Coul

given him what he wanted. I wou

or. The marble floor echoed with each step, ann

tretched before me-gleaming, perfect, and u

voice breaking on the last word. "I loved you mo

ng in the ai

t under my feet. Different from the hard marble inside. Softer. Wa

't loo

se door swung shut wit