PHE

movements slow, deliberate-a twisted

rooted at the door as I watched, frozen, somet

e bedframe and Owen's low groans. My knees buckled, and a sickening cold

ith a practiced indifference. Owen pulled his wallet out and handed her a wad of cash without so

kered across his eyes: a glint of something twisted, far from remorse. He leaned

s head as though we were discussing the weather. "Se

lly came, it was little more than a whisper spoi

sement. "I've been sweet and doting for so long.

real

f his breath dancing across my skin. "Oh, don't be silly;

. "Are you serious and actually trying to write this off as some kind of joke?" My fists clench

psycho. "You are so gullible, Ophelia, always desperate to be loved, so quic

ame out of me roughly, desperately, while my sight began to blur with the t

e and disgusting, Ophelia," he said, shaking his head. "Did it ever occur to you tha

pport, each breath coming in gasps. "What do you mean?" I managed, my voice little more than steady. "What

t behoves me to keep you in proximity," he said, the word "contempt" oozing fr

rom the inside out. "You... you trap me?" I wh

rom breaking down utterly. "I thought you cared about me,"

ly are something. You think I married you out of love?" He leaned in closer

every last thread of hope I'd clung desperately to. I sh

, the raw, unfiltered pain making my voice tremble. "Ho

xall; you're just so foolish. Well, here's some stern advice: don't come into my r

my despair. "No, Owen You don't get to just push me out like this," I said,

e doorway. "Enough, Ophelia, he snarled, coldly final

but he shoved me through the

pered, his voice low and lethal. "Take all t

e as surely as any prison bars. The walls of the hall seemed to close in, chill a

my mind, his words of hatred echoed minute after min

htmare? Why am I still trapped in this dream,

d around me, every piece sharp and jagged. My eyes were swollen and sore, but the tears didn't stop. W

when the man who created it w