mother left, the weight of her words still p

shley. A real marriage.

tr

space in front of her. How was she supposed to

was still open. It had been ever since she ran out that night,

another. Her hands clenched the fabric of he

low it down. She t

it hit her

never be used again. The cold spot beside her where Ale

. Then, she collapsed forward, her forehead pressi

ed for h

nt dreaming of holding him

ghter she would n

had been snatched f

ly as grief consumed he

or crea

shl

steps approached, and then a hand tou

ant to be alone," she croak

ted. "Ashle

ifting her tear-streaked face. Her eyes we

wanted to argue, but the look

ng in on herself, her body

rouched beside Ashley, not

passed. M

lled her under. But even in sleep, the pain di

t would neve

house. For a moment, her mind was blank, still caught in the haze of grief and exhau

g. She barely registered the sound of footsteps

there, hol

st," he said, his vo

ast, and a cup of chamomile tea, her favorite. Her

the type to bring h

ing as he placed the

ntly, sitting beside her. "You

ng gone. But when she hesitated, Alex picke

ite," he coa

ons he had thrown at her just the night before. She searched

found

orced herself to nibble on it, b

ed, as if

, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yo

fingers tightening ar

felt

themselves, but wh

f he had mourned with her or asked about their

he di

d now, as if trying to erase everything, he

aste filled

ing away a tear she hadn't realized had fallen, she

he was j

e was ove

s to her forehead. "I lo

d to make her

y felt li

*

rled on her side, her body stiff and unmoving. She hadn't changed into proper sleepwear, still wearing the same l

front doo

listened as unsteady footsteps echoed down the hall, slow

, the bedroom d

to. The strong scent of alcohol fil

unbuttoned and wrinkled like he'd been out all night. His eyes were bloodsh

he slurred, his voi

heavily on the bed beside her. His movements were slow, clumsy,

gainst her arm, then s

ten

e a whisper, but he didn't seem to h

ck. His breath was warm, but it reeked of whisk

ith the fabric of her dress.

iffened. "

ghtening. "Come on, Ash.

wisting. "Not now," she whispered,

wasn't l

her jaw, his hands moving to h

icked at

ands trembling. "Please," she t

're my wife," he muttered, his tone da

rieving. Becau

utting off the thought b

r. His hands were on her thigh

anic crawled up her spin

fight, to push harder, to y

e away, her vision

she just.

y to her sides. She closed her eyes, biting down on her li

't want t

want to

ant to be

e had n

yed still. S